General British politics discussion thread

Fair points but she’s low hanging fruit and surely shouldn’t be the last if it was all fair.

Evidence seems to be that the new variant is more contagious but probably not as severe and vaccines should continue to protect against severe disease. The latest reports are that they will be announcing fresh restrictions, possibly as early as tomorrow, and this will go down like a lead balloon with certain members of the pm's party.

I guess if her position was untenable, then you'd have to wonder about the others who are seen laughing and joking on the video, assuming they're still knocking around government or No.10 circles. Not that it has a huge material bearing on the pm's position. That's all purely about the video itself.

Dont forget Dominic Cummings wife Mary Wakefield is also an editor at the Spectator, its all incredibly incestuous

But if it was all one big golden circle including 'establishment' media surely ITV would never have made the video public. Are you suggesting there was a personal falling out somewhere among that coterie?

Meanwhile, the nationality and borders bill passes its third reading stage by 298 votes to 231. The bill includes a late government amendment that enables the home secretary to strip people of their British citizenship without giving notice, a change that tory mp David Davis has written critically about. Will have to check whether he voted the bill through anyway.

I dont think the post was any way off topic tbh. Allegra Stratton is also best mates with Carrie Johnson and the Spectator was defending her this morning, as has Peston on twitter. It's all a small golden circle that wields so much power to shape and influence events. Recall how the Telegraph went to war for over a week on behalf of Owen Paterson. May not have worked on this occasion, but not for want of trying. Nobody should lay bets on Strattons next port of call being The Spectator itself.

Also, intriguing that neither the Telegraph nor the Sun carried reports of the leaked video on their front pages. Wonder why is that.

I don't think we can say that with certainty. Her tears seemed geuine enough to me. Lots of people in very weighty positions say flippant things and use black humour when they think they're behind closed doors. Doesn't mean she's not serious about her job and the pandemic.

Suggestion I read was that the Sun allegedly had a party on the very same day itself so that could be one possible reason for its, eh, editorial decision to downplay this seismic story. The Telegraph? God only knows.

Edit: that's as reported by Private Eye today, I believe.

The Sun's party has been well reported in Private Eye (and Popbitch probably first). They're well capable of hypocrisy so that'd not stop a story on another party on its own!

Both it and a "quick! Fill the desks!" visit by Murdoch caused COVID outbreaks in their offices, again according to Private Eye

Oh yeah, no question about that. If Cummings is to be believed, and there's a reasonable enough chance he's playing some role in all this, there were a number of reporters at the party/business meeting and, frankly, I'd be more surprised if there hasn't been. I have very little doubt there is quite a bit of mileage left in this one yet.