Stop voting for fucking Tories

[Rinkals]

Money well spent after £252m to Ayanda Capital:

1. £186m of public money given to Uniserve Ltd of Essex, the UK’s largest privately owned logistics and global trade management company, to supply PPE that reportedly never appeared.

2. £116m of public money given to P14 Medical Ltd of Liverpool, which had liabilities exceeding assets by £485,000 in December 2019 with just £145 in the bank, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

3. £108m of public money given to PestFix, with 16 employees and net assets of £19,000, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

4. £14.2m and a subsequent £93.2m of public money given to Clandeboye Agencies Ltd, a confectionery wholesaler in Co Antrim, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

5. £40m of public money given to Medicine Box Ltd of Sutton-in-Ashfield, despite having assets of just £6,000 in March, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

6. £32m and a subsequent £16m of public money given to Initia Ventures Ltd, filed for dormancy in January this year, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

7. £28m of public money given to Monarch Acoustics Ltd of Nottingham, makers of shop and office furniture, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

8. £25m of public money given to Luxe Lifestyle Ltd, to supply garments for biological or chemical protection to the NHS. According to Companies House, the business was incorporated by fashion designer Karen Brost in November 2018. It appears to have no employees, no assets and no turnover.

9. £18.4m of public money given to Aventis Solutions Ltd of Wilmslow, with just £322 in assets, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

10. £10m of public money given to Medco Solutions Ltd, incorporated on 26 March (three days after lockdown) with a share capital of just £2, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

11. £1.1m of public money given to Bristol shoemaker Toffeln Ltd, had seemingly never supplied any PPE whatsoever in the past, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

12.£825,000 of public money given to MGP Advisory, described as a venture and development capital business that was in danger of being struck off the companies register for failing to file accounts. – it’s not clear what they were supposed to provide.

Someone has been hijacking these vital PPE shipments and this should be investigated immediately!

Good idea.

Commissioning another enquiry should keep the lid firmly on it.

[Torquemada 1420]

Someone has been hijacking these vital PPE shipments and this should be investigated immediately!

Good idea.

Commissioning another enquiry should keep the lid firmly on it.

I'll do it.


For the cheap sum of £30m.

[I like neeps]

Dan Hodges has started "writing" "articles" that suggest the leaks are a corbynista civil service trying to make the govt look bad.

This is how the Tories get away with it. Their mates in the press start to distort and kill stories.

[tabascoboy]

New definitions:

"Inquiry": the result will put the opposition in the shit
"Review": How can we cover this up...?

[Lobby]

Dan Hodges has started "writing" "articles" that suggest the leaks are a corbynista civil service trying to make the govt look bad.

This is how the Tories get away with it. Their mates in the press start to distort and kill stories.

Hodges has been on a strange political journey alright. Son of a Labour MP and two-time member of the Labour Party who describes himself as a 'Blairite', he has since transformed himself into a cheerleader for Boris and 'the Right's useful idiot', first at the Telegraph and now at the Mail.

Although there is no evidence that the civil servants feeding information to the Labour Party and the press about Greensil are Corbynites, or even affiliated with the Labour Party, the Sunday Times journalists have confirmed that they are being 'assisted' by current civil servants.

[I like neeps]

Dan Hodges has started "writing" "articles" that suggest the leaks are a corbynista civil service trying to make the govt look bad.

This is how the Tories get away with it. Their mates in the press start to distort and kill stories.

Hodges has been on a strange political journey alright. Son of a Labour MP and two-time member of the Labour Party who describes himself as a 'Blairite', he has since transformed himself into a cheerleader for Boris and 'the Right's useful idiot', first at the Telegraph and now at the Mail.

Although there is no evidence that the civil servants feeding information to the Labour Party and the press about Greensil are Corbynites, or even affiliated with the Labour Party, the Sunday Times journalists have confirmed that they are being 'assisted' by current civil servants.

As with any leak there is a source. If they were corbynistas surely they'd leak most of it when Corbyn was in charge?

If you want to be a journalist writing pro labour stories is a fools errand. Only so many guardian and NS columns to go around. Writing for right wing publications is just how to make a career.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Dan Hodges has started "writing" "articles" that suggest the leaks are a corbynista civil service trying to make the govt look bad.

This is how the Tories get away with it. Their mates in the press start to distort and kill stories.

Hodges has been on a strange political journey alright. Son of a Labour MP and two-time member of the Labour Party who describes himself as a 'Blairite', he has since transformed himself into a cheerleader for Boris and 'the Right's useful idiot', first at the Telegraph and now at the Mail.

Although there is no evidence that the civil servants feeding information to the Labour Party and the press about Greensil are Corbynites, or even affiliated with the Labour Party, the Sunday Times journalists have confirmed that they are being 'assisted' by current civil servants.

As with any leak there is a source. If they were corbynistas surely they'd leak most of it when Corbyn was in charge?

If you want to be a journalist writing pro labour stories is a fools errand. Only so many guardian and NS columns to go around. Writing for right wing publications is just how to make a career.

Even if they were leaked by Labour then so what? It’s still highlighting corruption at an industrial scale. Billions have been handed out for very little return. Labour getting it in the press doesn’t make it ok.

[tabascoboy]

More new definitions

Leak : a despicable breach of trust and confidentiality used only by the duplicitous
Whistleblowing: A justifiable disclosure as an act of conscience genuinely in the public ineterst

[I like neeps]

Hodges has been on a strange political journey alright. Son of a Labour MP and two-time member of the Labour Party who describes himself as a 'Blairite', he has since transformed himself into a cheerleader for Boris and 'the Right's useful idiot', first at the Telegraph and now at the Mail.

Although there is no evidence that the civil servants feeding information to the Labour Party and the press about Greensil are Corbynites, or even affiliated with the Labour Party, the Sunday Times journalists have confirmed that they are being 'assisted' by current civil servants.

As with any leak there is a source. If they were corbynistas surely they'd leak most of it when Corbyn was in charge?

If you want to be a journalist writing pro labour stories is a fools errand. Only so many guardian and NS columns to go around. Writing for right wing publications is just how to make a career.

Even if they were leaked by Labour then so what? It’s still highlighting corruption at an industrial scale. Billions have been handed out for very little return. Labour getting it in the press doesn’t make it ok.

Well this is it isn't it. Dan Hodges is using his "credibility" to downplay the scandal because "a corbynista" leaked it. So instead of the story being corruption it's the civil service being overrun by corbynistas. And that is how the govt get away with this stuff.

[Torquemada 1420]

Tories making good use of this effect:

https://sketchplanations.com/the-dilution-effect

[Sandstorm]

Tories making good use of this effect:

https://sketchplanations.com/the-dilution-effect

Itchy feet = Brexit

[Insane_Homer]

[Rinkals]

Needs another inquiry so that "lessons can be learned".

And to kick it into the long grass, of course.

[Insane_Homer]

even the Beeb getting in on it now, Director General's going to receive hair dryer call soon.

[Insane_Homer]

[Rinkals]

So, is lying to the House not considered perjury?

It does seem to be one of those transgressions that is so minor, it's hardly worth talking about.

[tabascoboy]

So, is lying to the House not considered perjury?

It does seem to be one of those transgressions that is so minor, it's hardly worth talking about.

Parliamentary Privilege, innit

In the United Kingdom, it allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander, contempt of court or breaching the Official Secrets Act.

but

these rights and immunities do not extend to crimes unrelated to their office

[Insane_Homer]

Duplicitous wanker alert!

[Insane_Homer]

[Insane_Homer]

[Insane_Homer]

Another Boris Vanity project bites the the dust at the tax payers expense.

Breaking:

Boris Johnson has axed plans for televised White House-style press conferences

Allegra Stratton, his press secretary, will become his spokeswoman for COP26

The £2.6m No 9 briefing room will instead be used by the PM, ministers and officials

Tories seem desperate to bury as much bad news as they can under the Chauvin Guilty verdict.

[I like neeps]

Rishi Sunak was the best man at Allegra Stratton's wedding. She's on 110k per year for a job she doesn't actually do.

That's about as good an example of sleaze as there is.

[SaintK]

Rishi Sunak was the best man at Allegra Stratton's wedding. She's on 110k per year for a job she doesn't actually do.

That's about as good an example of sleaze as there is.

Cough! £125k a year.
Nice work if you can get it

[Insane_Homer]

Number 10 makeover scandal: New leaked memo shows Conservative Party chief knew £58,000 donation was earmarked for Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat

This was duly declared to the Electoral Commission watchdog, in accordance with transparency rules.

Crucially, the email, also sent to Conservative chief executive Darren Mott, shows a second donation of £58,000 was to pay for new decor for Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds’s flat at 11 Downing Street.

This has not yet been declared to the Electoral Commission.

The £58,000 was to cover an identical amount secretly paid months earlier by Tory HQ for the refurbishment, including expensive wallpaper – in an attempt to disguise it.

The email appears to prove that the Tories planned to claim the £58,000 was paid not by Lord Brownlow but by a ‘soon to be formed Downing St Trust’ that did not exist – and still doesn’t, officially.

The disclosure comes as the Electoral Commission continues to quiz Conservative chiefs over the flat refit row, which has been dubbed ‘Wallpaper-gate’. The email, sent by wealthy donor Lord Brownlow last October 14 was marked ‘Donation’ and reads: ‘Hi Mike ... further to our conversation I am making a donation to the Party.

[Rinkals]

So, is lying to the House not considered perjury?

It does seem to be one of those transgressions that is so minor, it's hardly worth talking about.

Parliamentary Privilege, innit

In the United Kingdom, it allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander, contempt of court or breaching the Official Secrets Act.

but

these rights and immunities do not extend to crimes unrelated to their office

As I read it, Parliamentary privilege protects the Members from legal action if they say something which may be construed as slander, etc.

Surely lying to Parliament is much more serious than that?

However, it does seem to be a very common occurrence under Bojo's Government.

It's just that I was under the impression that the UK had a law against it.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/6

[Tichtheid]

So, is lying to the House not considered perjury?

It does seem to be one of those transgressions that is so minor, it's hardly worth talking about.

Parliamentary Privilege, innit

In the United Kingdom, it allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander, contempt of court or breaching the Official Secrets Act.

but

these rights and immunities do not extend to crimes unrelated to their office

As I read it, Parliamentary privilege protects the Members from legal action if they say something which may be construed as slander, etc.

Surely lying to Parliament is much more serious than that?

However, it does seem to be a very common occurrence under Bojo's Government.

It's just that I was under the impression that the UK had a law against it.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/6

From section 1 of the Westminster ministerial code

c. It is of paramount importance that Ministers give
accurate and truthful information to Parliament,
correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest
opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead
Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to
the Prime Minister;


It doesn't specifically say what should happen if the prime minister lies to parliament right enough.

[Slick]

On first hearing, I'm not seeing that much in this one to be honest. It was a national emergency and no one is making anything out of it.

Dyson could just have swallowed it really

[Rinkals]

Parliamentary Privilege, innit



but

As I read it, Parliamentary privilege protects the Members from legal action if they say something which may be construed as slander, etc.

Surely lying to Parliament is much more serious than that?

However, it does seem to be a very common occurrence under Bojo's Government.

It's just that I was under the impression that the UK had a law against it.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/6

From section 1 of the Westminster ministerial code

c. It is of paramount importance that Ministers give
accurate and truthful information to Parliament,
correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest
opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead
Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to
the Prime Minister;


It doesn't specifically say what should happen if the prime minister lies to parliament right enough.

Indeed.

Presumably, if the PM asks you to lie in Parliament, any offer to resign would be declined.

Cunning.

[SaintK]

Number 10 makeover scandal: New leaked memo shows Conservative Party chief knew £58,000 donation was earmarked for Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat

Spoiler

Show

This was duly declared to the Electoral Commission watchdog, in accordance with transparency rules.

Crucially, the email, also sent to Conservative chief executive Darren Mott, shows a second donation of £58,000 was to pay for new decor for Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds’s flat at 11 Downing Street.

This has not yet been declared to the Electoral Commission.

The £58,000 was to cover an identical amount secretly paid months earlier by Tory HQ for the refurbishment, including expensive wallpaper – in an attempt to disguise it.

The email appears to prove that the Tories planned to claim the £58,000 was paid not by Lord Brownlow but by a ‘soon to be formed Downing St Trust’ that did not exist – and still doesn’t, officially.

The disclosure comes as the Electoral Commission continues to quiz Conservative chiefs over the flat refit row, which has been dubbed ‘Wallpaper-gate’. The email, sent by wealthy donor Lord Brownlow last October 14 was marked ‘Donation’ and reads: ‘Hi Mike ... further to our conversation I am making a donation to the Party.

[/quote]
We know that his little princess spaffed the thick end of £300k on her little Downing St project. Where and who did the balance come from?

[SaintK]

On first hearing, I'm not seeing that much in this one to be honest. It was a national emergency and no one is making anything out of it.

Dyson could just have swallowed it really

National emergency or not that's not quite the point. Dyson was a Brexit donor and has donated to the Tory party and he obviously has the blonde slugs private phone number
Johnson and his cabinet should be adhering to the ministerial code. He and his cabinet don't appear to even know what it is or what it says

A private secretary or official should be present for all discussions relating to government business. If a minister meets an external organisation or individual and finds themselves discussing official business without an official present – for example at a social occasion or on holiday – any significant content should be passed back to the department as soon as possible after the event. Departments will publish quarterly, details of ministers’ external meetings.

Blair probably had it about right

Asked what he would have done if he had received text messages like this when he was prime minister, Blair said that when he was in Downing Street he never had a mobile phone. He was now “extremely grateful” for that, he said.

[Paddington Bear]

Didn't Blair take a bribe off Bernie Ecclestone to keep cigarette adverts legal for F1?

[Torquemada 1420]

On first hearing, I'm not seeing that much in this one to be honest. It was a national emergency and no one is making anything out of it.

Dyson could just have swallowed it really

The point is the PM bypassing proper channels. National emergency or no, he is not elected with the powers to conduct himself in that way.

[SaintK]

Didn't Blair take a bribe off Bernie Ecclestone to keep cigarette adverts legal for F1?

That was one of Lord Levy's little escapades
At least Blair was embarassed enough to give it back. This current lot a far more more brazen

[Torquemada 1420]

Didn't Blair take a bribe off Bernie Ecclestone to keep cigarette adverts legal for F1?

Blair was involved in plenty of questionable stuff. We don't know if Blair was bribed in the truest sense but he certainly intervened to enable F1 to continue peddling cancer and unlikely he did it simply because he liked broom brooms.

[Torquemada 1420]

and it shows that the Government are still protecting individuals linked to al-Qaeda, Saudi intelligence, and the royal families of Abu Dhabi and other countries in the Middle East, as well as arms dealers, smugglers, fraudsters, convicted criminals, BCCI senior personnel, and some politicians.

What kind of Government protect criminal organisations and wrongdoers?

I think we can all answer that one.

[SaintK]

On first hearing, I'm not seeing that much in this one to be honest. It was a national emergency and no one is making anything out of it.

Dyson could just have swallowed it really

A bit more from Kuenssberg

I understand No 11 was uneasy about what Dyson was asking for, and it's suggested they had quite deliberately not responded to his firm's requests before Sir James himself then texted Johnson directly about the tax issue
I'm told Sunak did not and has never had any personal contact with Sir James Dyson
And of course, Treasury set precedent a few weeks ago when they published Sunak's texts to David Cameron about Greensill - we have asked No 10 if they will do the same with Johnson's texts to Dyson

Johnson flying solo and favouring Brexit and Tory donors

At the time, other manufacturers felt that in the key March 16th meeting the PM was especially keen to involve Dyson and JCB, as manufacturer-supporters of Brexit, rather than carmakers and aerospace (who succeeded)

Brazen doesn't do it justice

[mat the expat]

Brazen doesn't do it justice

Luckily, the Football scandal is in the press

[Torquemada 1420]

Brazen doesn't do it justice

Luckily, the Football scandal is in the press

Don't forget that threat to extinction of the human race, COVID.

[Slick]

Asked what he would have done if he had received text messages like this when he was prime minister, Blair said that when he was in Downing Street he never had a mobile phone. He was now “extremely grateful” for that, he said

He also said, and it's a little more relevant than his mobile phone ownership:

We were in the middle of a pandemic. After all, we were asking James Dyson to step forward and start making ventilators. I find it hard to get worked up about this. There's got to be a certain degree of understanding: if you are in the middle of a huge crisis like this, people are going to be using every means they can to make sure they respond to the immediate crisis

[fishfoodie]

Asked what he would have done if he had received text messages like this when he was prime minister, Blair said that when he was in Downing Street he never had a mobile phone. He was now “extremely grateful” for that, he said

He also said, and it's a little more relevant than his mobile phone ownership:

We were in the middle of a pandemic. After all, we were asking James Dyson to step forward and start making ventilators. I find it hard to get worked up about this. There's got to be a certain degree of understanding: if you are in the middle of a huge crisis like this, people are going to be using every means they can to make sure they respond to the immediate crisis

Except the Tories weren't; "using every means"; because, despite the offer, they very deliberately ignored the massive EU scheme to manufacture ventilators.