PointlessGate

I have been watching a program recently called Gaslit. It’s about one woman’s (Martha Mitchell) role behind Watergate and how her actions helped lead to the resignation of President Nixon. I also ended up watching the film Frost/Nixon

From what I can gather, Nixon never broke into any office or building. But he probably did give an informal nod to people who worked for him to arrange the break in. A group of men broke into a hotel room being used by the Democrat Party. They were after information that would help Nixon win the presidency again.

Breaking and entering is a crime, but equally, it’s not like he was mugging old ladies. they broke into a room used by political opponents. No one died.

Nixon resigned the Presidency. The only US President ever to do so. He resigned due to his taking part in this criminal conspiracy. President Ford took over and granted him immunity from criminal prosecution. There was a feeling amongst American voters at the time that Nixon had broken the law and gotten away with it. One rule for them etc.

Fast forward to today and our current PM, Boris Johnston has broken the law. We know this because he has been issued with a fine by the police for his criminal conduct.

This occurred during an unprecedented time. The British public had been ordered to stay inside their homes, only being allowed to leave to shop for food once a day or to exercise, once a day which on the whole the public observed.

This changed everything. Road were empty. Planes stopped flying. People stopped going to offices. Those people who worked low level low paid jobs suddenly found that they were essential and if there was a disease being spread that you could protect yourself from by staying at home, they weren't going to be allowed to do that.

Street cleaners, delivery drivers, carers, these were the people we needed now. Instagram influencers and premiership footballers were suddenly no longer necessary. They still however received their high salaries. Unlike many 18 - 30 year olds working in hospitality jobs all of whom were sent home and, if they were lucky, were paid furlough by the Government before being fired.

Workplaces did not have Christmas parties. People who left just disappeared. Maybe a group call on Teams if they were lucky. But they were the ones who had it easy.

There were also those who were in hospital sick, dying, they died alone. They were not allowed visitors. Children died without their parents. Parents couldn’t bury their children except in very limited circumstances.

Mentally ill children and adults, the elderly in homes, people who did not understand the circumstances and who rely on human interaction to distinguish their day from solitary confinement suddenly had no visitors. They were alone.

Moving into 2021 as the rules got relaxed people remained cautious. People were pulling out of holidays to stay safe. Christmas plans remained at risk as people scaled back to try and reduce the spread of Covid.

What about those in power? What about those in Number 10? We already know about the weird eye sight test trip to Barnard Castle. You'd think that was it. But no. There was more. 1 party, 2 parties? No. More. This is the list of parties and drinks events at Number 10 investigated by Sue Grey:

15 May 2020; a photograph showing a number of groups in the garden of No 10 Downing Street

20 May 2020: a gathering in the garden of No 10 Downing Street for No 10 staff

18 June 2020: a gathering in the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall on the departure of a No 10 private secretary

19 June 2020: a gathering in the Cabinet room in No 10 Downing Street on the Prime Minister’s birthday

13 November 2020: a gathering in the No 10 Downing Street flat; a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser

27 November 2020: a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser

10 December 2020: a gathering in the Department for Education ahead of the Christmas break

15 December 2020: a gathering in No 10 Downing Street for an online Christmas quiz

17 December 2020: a gathering in Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall to hold an online Christmas quiz for the Cabinet Secretary’s private office; a gathering in Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall on the departure of a senior Cabinet Office official; a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a No 10 official

18 December 2020: a gathering in No 10 Downing Street ahead of the Christmas break

14 January 2021; a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of two No 10 private secretaries

16 April 2021; a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a senior No 10 official; a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of another No 10 official

We know there are more. We know she, and the Met Police have for some reason decided not to investigate other parties that went on in Downing Street.

I have worked at employers who do spend good sums of money on Christmas parties (pre-lockdown) But I have never worked for an employer who has installed a drinks fridge in the workplace and stocked it with wine at their expense.

But I think the thing that shocks me the most is the culture. And not the ridiculous “wine time Fridays” drinking culture, which is bad enough and hardly inclusive, but the culture where they think they are immune to their own rules. Lots of people had to work during lockdown, but lost of people were fined for breaking the rules as well. But this group in Number 10 seems to thing that they are so entitled, so hard working, so different and so special, that they can do whatever they like even when the country itself is sacrificing itself. Its like finding out that during WW2 Churchill was in a luxury beach resort feasting on a banquet pissed up whilst banging on about great sacrifices.

We deserve better.