Will blame anybody but himself. If they told him to jump off a cliff, would he have done it? Anybody with a modicum of common sense understands that you cannot give people "rules" to do something, then completely ignore those self same rules yourself as it is hypocrisy. Going down even further in my estimation if that is possible
Johnson ignored advice from senior official not to tell MPs all Covid guidance was followed, evidence shows In his evidence yesterday Boris Johnson revealed that his principal private secretary, advised him to take out a reference to all the Covid guidance being followed in No. 10 from a script he was going to use at PMQs on 8th December 2021. Johnson’s evidence repeatedly stressed the difference between rules and guidance. He did tells MPs that both the rules and the guidance were followed, but the document he published yesterday implied he accepts that the claim about the guidance being followed all the time was more questionable. Today the privileges committee has published the full quote from Reynolds in its bundle. Reynolds evidence Reynolds evidence Photograph: Privileges committee Reynolds has the wrong date; this PMQs was on the 8th December. At PMQs Johnson ignored the advice saying he should take out the reference to guidance and told MPs: “The guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.”
Cabinet secretary Simon Case says he never told Johnson all Covid rules and guidance were followed in No 10 The new evidence also shows that Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, says that he never told Boris Johnson that Covid rules and guidance were followed at all time in Downing Street, and that he never assured him no parties were held. Case also said he was not aware of anyone else giving Johnson these assurances. As cabinet secretary, Case is the most senior civil servant in No 10. But he is not necessarily the person who briefs the PM most regularly, or whom Johnson would have relied on most for a briefing before PMQs.
"Boris, your arse is on fire." "Unless my advisers inform me it's a fire, I'll continue to believe it's just a warm glow."
Similar to Trump in that he's got a tendency to only remember things that have happened immediately before speaking. He had that phrase in his head despite the advice not to use it and out it comes. Remarkable that nobody in No.10 decided to set themselves up as the COVID police while wannabee dictators in offices across the world were gleefully grabbing the chance to do so. It's just a different world isn't it.
Totally agree about your point... He had that phrase in his head despite the advice not to use it and out it comes. I believe that links in to his beliefs that he should be removed from having to follow the rules, as highlighted by his headmaster's end of school report.
Reynolds clearly being set up as the fall guy here. Although I'd argue that it was part of his job as PPS to highlight issues like this with a clear political fallout to Johnson, and he's instead just told him what he wants to hear (amongst other people including Simon Case who's in full deny mode this morning). I think ultimately we're going to have to have a rethink as to what a PMs tasks actually are. Some quarters would have you believe they should be doing all, organizing all and knowing all when in reality that's impossible. It should be the responsibility of those below a PM to bring problems to their attention.
Yes this is the major UK news story ahead of crippling inflation, the continuing Brexit chaos, the various strikes, etc. And yes Boris Johnson if the subject of the thread ... ... but, don't forget if you mention Boris Johnson, according to people who keep mentioning Boris Johnson, it means he's living rent free in your head On reflection, the first post on this thread may as well have been the last.
Hahaha... BREAKING: Boris Johnson has said he accepts he misled parliament over partygate but insists his statements were "in good faith"