Boris Johnson

[Reps AJ]

Originally Posted by Baffled Bob 2

Sounds fake to me. Post it here.

It's from The Times if you have a subscription (I dont), I think its in this article from the end of April



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[Reps AJ]

It's also been reported in The Mirror that he'd been told he'd only be investigated for two events, even though he was at about 6 illegal gatherings

[Baffled Bob 2]

Not fake at all then. Apologies to SE25.

Something stinky is going on. I'm sticking to my theory for the moment that it's just the Met being useless but this feels like corruption.

[SE25 exile]

Originally Posted by Reps AJ

It's from The Times if you have a subscription (I dont), I think its in this article from the end of April



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Thanks AJ for that

[Johnybegood]

Originally Posted by Baffled Bob 2

Not fake at all then. Apologies to SE25.

Something stinky is going on. I'm sticking to my theory for the moment that it's just the Met being useless but this feels like corruption.

The public smell a rat as well, according to a poll over half of respondents don't trust the MET's outcome,

If BJ is celebrating (and he certainly likes a party!), it may be too soon if the public suspect corruption

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[DANGERMOUSE]

It's just baffling, isn't it? Who gets fined and who doesn't; on what basis the decisions have been taken. And the lack of explanation from the Met doesn't help.

But on the other hand, do the police routinely publish the rationale behind their investigations, prosecutions and fines? No they don't. And if we're clamouring for Downing Street's occupants to be treated just like the rest of us when it comes to breaking lockdown rules, it's difficult to argue that they shouldn't be treated like the rest of us when it comes to the police's investigation and fines.

The contrary argument about the makers of rules breaking them is a moral one and (for many) a political one rather than a legal one. As galling as it is, and as important as it is for Britain's political culture, it's difficult to argue that politicians and civil servants shouldn't be equal before the law in all aspects.

[RazorsEdge]

Originally Posted by DANGERMOUSE

It's just baffling, isn't it? Who gets fined and who doesn't; on what basis the decisions have been taken. And the lack of explanation from the Met doesn't help.

But on the other hand, do the police routinely publish the rationale behind their investigations, prosecutions and fines? No they don't. And if we're clamouring for Downing Street's occupants to be treated just like the rest of us when it comes to breaking lockdown rules, it's difficult to argue that they shouldn't be treated like the rest of us when it comes to the police's investigation and fines.

The contrary argument about the makers of rules breaking them is a moral one and (for many) a political one rather than a legal one. As galling as it is, and as important as it is for Britain's political culture, it's difficult to argue that politicians and civil servants shouldn't be equal before the law in all aspects.

I am sure the police produce ‘evidence’ before they charge someone. So there will be ‘evidence’ rather than ‘rationale’ behind those fines which led to those who got fined putting their hands up and admitting to it. If they didn’t they would have gone to court to challenge it.

[Maz]

Why is evidence 'evidence' iyo?

[RazorsEdge]

Originally Posted by Maz

Why is evidence 'evidence' iyo?

I was being sarky hence it was in ‘’

[Maz]

Ah. I actually think that they do need to have evidence, you know!

[DANGERMOUSE]

Originally Posted by RazorsEdge

I am sure the police produce ‘evidence’ before they charge someone. So there will be ‘evidence’ rather than ‘rationale’ behind those fines which led to those who got fined putting their hands up and admitting to it. If they didn’t they would have gone to court to challenge it.

Produce it to whom? They don't put out a press release, that's for sure. Which is my point: whilst it is essential for political reasons (as in to establish/enforce good behaviour amongst our ruling class) that's not the concern of the police, and they need to treat Downing Street as any other street in the land (which, after all, is what the issue is in the first place). So we can't expect an official communique from the Met setting out all the gory details - any more than if you or I were fined for lockdown breaches..