British Politics

More than 40 camels have been disqualified from a beauty pageant in Saudi Arabia after authorities cracked down on the use of Botox injections and other cosmetic alterations.



https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/worl...eant-for-using-botox/ar-AARBNwc?ocid=msedgntp

 

Who would follow tubs?

 

Christmas party row: Tories held raucous second event

George Grylls, Political Reporter | Henry Zeffman, Chief Political Correspondent | Oliver Wright, Policy Editor
Thursday December 09 2021, 12.01am, The Times


Play Video

Share
Save
Boris Johnson faces more questions over his team’s attitude towards coronavirus rules today after it emerged that Tory aides threw a raucous Christmas party and senior Downing Street staff held a quiz night.

As anger grows among Tory MPs over an event held in No 10 on December 18 last year, The Times can disclose that Conservative Party staff danced and drank wine late into the night at another event that month.

Senior advisers and officials working in Downing Street also held a Christmas quiz, and one source claimed that Dan Rosenfield, Johnson’s incoming chief of staff, took part.

please log in to view this image

IN YOUR INBOX
Best of Times
We’ll send you our top stories, across all sections, straight to your inbox. Simple as that.
Sign up now
• Why it ended in tears for Allegra Stratton, the PM’s star hire

The revelations follow the resignation of Allegra Stratton, Johnson’s spokeswoman on the Cop26 climate conference, after a leaked video showed her laughing about the December 18 party. It took place two days after London went into Tier 3, meaning that people were not allowed to mix indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble.

ADVERTISEMENT

Johnson said he was “sickened and furious” about the footage. He has said that “all the guidelines were observed” and yesterday told MPs: “I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party.”

In a tearful statement, Stratton offered her “profound” apologies for the comments she made during a mock press conference last year. “My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey,” she said. “That was never my intention. I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and offer profound apologies to all of you.”

Under pressure from Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, in the Commons yesterday, Johnson offered to help the police investigate claims that a party was held, and said that he had asked Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, to establish what happened. He promised “consequences”, including disciplinary action, for his staff if a party did take place. It has since emerged that on December 14 about 25 people gathered in the basement of Conservative headquarters in Westminster. The event was organised by the campaign team of Shaun Bailey, who was running for mayor of London. Bailey attended the party, at which people wore festive hats and he received a Lego set as a Christmas present from a donor.

• Leading article: The Times view on the Christmas party dispute

Revellers damaged a door and staff were disciplined. No 10 aides were said to have been among those present.



At the time London was in the Tier 2 level of restrictions, meaning all socialising indoors between households was banned. Hours before the party Matt Hancock, then health secretary, gave a press conference announcing that the capital would move into Tier 3.

A Conservative Party spokesman last night confirmed the “unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street” and said that “formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign”.

At about the same time, a Christmas quiz is understood to have been organised for officials and Conservative advisers working for the prime minister, with invitations sent out in advance. One source said that the quiz took place in the “control centre” established at 70 Whitehall by Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s former chief adviser, while another said that people stayed late drinking.

please log in to view this image

TIMES RADIO
[paste:font size="3"]Tune in
We will bring the stories of the day to life with warmth, wit and expertise. Listen for free on DAB radio, your smart speaker, online at times.radio, and via the Times Radio app
Start listening
Downing Street sources said that the quiz was “entirely virtual” and that it therefore could not have taken place in 70 Whitehall. They conceded that some might have taken part from their desks in communal offices.

ADVERTISEMENT[/paste:font]

One government figure said that Rosenfield took part, adding that “it was the first time many of us met him”. His appointment to succeed Cummings had been announced in late November last year but he did not take up the job formally until January 1. Downing Street sources said last night that Rosenfield was in the building during the event but denied he was part of a large gathering.

Scotland Yard said it did not have enough evidence to launch an investigation. Conservative MPs were incensed by the row, with Sir Roger Gale saying Johnson “doesn’t appear to know what’s going on in his own building”.

 

Just hearing the most painful interview with the EDUCATION Secretary. I have never heard so many "Um err errs" in one interview. FFS what a stuttering interview. Still er,er erring as I type. Unfortunately the remote is out of reach

 

Gammonflake.


Rod Liddle demands University of Durham apology

Nicola Woolcock, Education Editor
Thursday December 09 2021, 12.01am, The Times

please log in to view this image

Durham students at a protest yesterday accused Rod Liddle, right, of hate speech at a talk he gave last week. Some said that they were left in distress
RAOUL DIXON/NNP
Share
Save
Rod Liddle has accused the University of Durham of vilifying him to “appease jabbering infants” and asked it to reimburse his £150 travel expenses.

The Sunday Times columnist said the institution should issue a “grovelling apology” and reinstate to full duties Tim Luckhurst, the professor who invited him to speak.

Professor Antony Long, the vice-chancellor, said in a letter to staff and students that the institution was seen as elitist, must work to be more inclusive and that an investigation into the incident would conclude next month.


Luckhurst, head of South College at the university and a former colleague of Liddle, invited him to speak at its Christmas dinner and shouted “pathetic” at students who walked out.

He has apologised, stood aside from some duties and been banned from commenting while under investigation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Liddle joked in his speech that he was disappointed not to see any sex workers, a reference to recent controversy about safety training for students in the sex industry.

He also said colonialism was not the main cause of problems in Africa, that the underachievement of black pupils had nothing to do with institutional or structural racism and that anger about Britain’s forced adoption policy between 1945 and 1975 did not take sufficient account of the welfare of children, focusing instead on the mother.

He told GB News yesterday: “Durham University has behaved despicably, far worse than the students have behaved. What you don’t expect is the kind of doublethink which Durham University has indulged in.

“Firstly by saying that they agree with freedom of speech, then by saying except if it’s something we don’t agree with, which the Labour Party on campus doesn’t agree with, then they don’t agree with it.



“Then most importantly of all you might argue, scapegoating poor Tim Luckhurst, who asked me to come along in good faith having cleared it with the university authorities, having told them what was happening in advance.

“They have now decided because they’ve got to appease these jabbering infants they’ve decided they’ve got to do something and so a hugely distinguished, reputable and incredibly competent journalist and professor is left hanging out to dry.”

Dozens of students marched yesterday, carrying flags and banners. Some have said the comments, made last Friday, breached the Equality Act and left them distressed.

 

Genuinely gutted.

 

Now we know why Dickhead had her contract extended.

 

That actually sounds like a brilliant party, tbh. Class