Vomiting and Partying until 4am: Sue Gray Delivers Damning Verdict on Boris Johnson’s No 10

THE GUARDIAN: Security logs also reveal spilled wine over walls and drunken staff told to leave by back entrance

Boris Johnson at a gathering in 10 Downing Street. Photograph: Sue Gray report/Cabinet Office/PA
Sue Gray has issued a damning verdict on the party culture in Boris Johnson’s Downing Street, in a 37-page report that includes nine photographs, and names a string of senior civil servants.

Gray sets out in embarrassing detail how each event unfolded, including a leaving party on 18 June 2020, at which “one individual was sick”, and “there was a minor altercation between two other individuals”.

“Whatever the initial intent, what took place at many of these gatherings and the way in which they developed was not in line with Covid guidance at the time,” the report says.

“Even allowing for the extraordinary pressures officials and advisers were under, the factual findings of this report illustrate some attitudes and behaviours inconsistent with that guidance.”

In what appears to be an indictment of the prime minister, as well as senior civil servants, she says “the senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture”.

Details of the gatherings include security logs revealing some staff carried on partying until 4am after the leaving do for the director of communications, James Slack, cleaners giving evidence of spilled wine over the walls, and messages warning drunken staff to leave via the back entrance. » | Heather Stewart and Aubrey Allegretti | Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Red Wall Tories Irate as Ex-Sky Boss Takes Over at No 10 Policy Unit

THE GUARDIAN: Former banker Andrew Griffith will succeed Munira Mirza in key role shaping government thinking

Andrew Griffith in Whitehall on Friday. His Westminster townhouse was used by Boris Johnson as a base for plotting out his first 100 days in office. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Conservative MPs have privately been venting their anger at the appointment of a former Sky executive who entered parliament in 2019 as the replacement for Munira Mirza as the head of No 10’s policy unit.

MPs from northern “red wall” areas were particularly vehement about the promotion of Andrew Griffith, a former investment banker representing a safe Tory seat in West Sussex, to a key role in shaping new government ideas.

“What does he know about real life?” asked one new northern Tory MP, who had not yet submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson but suggested Griffith’s arrival would “probably mean more letters”. Even one MP who spoke highly of Griffith said moving him to replace Mirza “shouldn’t have been done quite so quickly and brutally”.

Griffith is – outwardly at least – a supporter of classic low-tax, deregulatory Conservatism whose appointment could mean a pivot away from the “culture wars” sometimes associated with Mirza. But while they acknowledge his business acumen, many of his colleagues doubt Griffith is sufficiently politically minded to do the job effectively. » | Benn Quinn and Aubrey Allegretti | Friday, February 4, 2022

What do these super-privileged, self-satisfied people know about the lives of ordinary folk? BoJo’s government is completely out of touch with the lives of ordinary people, completely out of touch with the electorate. This has been shown over and over and over again.

This is not a left-right divide, but a divide within the system itself. We are being led by people who have no idea, no understanding of the circumstances of the lives of ordinary people. Therefore, these people are not fit for purpose. They must go if this once great country is to remain a democracy.

We are in dangerous territory. These politicians are creating the conditions for revolution; and no sensible person wants anything like that to happen. – © Mark

Boris Johnson et sa compagne emménagent à Downing Street

PARIS MATCH: Lundi, le Premier ministre britannique Boris Johnson emménage dans sa résidence de Downing Street à Londres, avec sa compagne.

Le nouveau Premier ministre britannique Boris Johnson emménage lundi dans sa résidence de Downing Street à Londres, où il vivra avec sa compagne Carrie Symonds, a annoncé l'exécutif britannique. «Le Premier ministre emménage officiellement aujourd'hui et, oui, sa partenaire y vivra», a déclaré à la presse un porte-parole du dirigeant conservateur de 55 ans, qui a pris le 24 juillet la succession de Theresa May. » | La Rédaction avec AFP | lundi 29. juillet 2019

Mike Pompeo: A Bully Boy Calls at No 10

THE GUARDIAN: The visit of the hawkish US secretary of state poses problems for Theresa May and Jeremy Hunt

American secretaries of state can be earnestly dull, like John Kerry, or plain brilliant, like George Marshall; Machiavellian, like Henry Kissinger, or intensely political, like Hillary Clinton. Mike Pompeo, the bluntly spoken, present-day incumbent who will discuss “shared global priorities” with Theresa May in London, is simply a problem.

As last week’s failed US pressure tactics in Venezuela showed, the former army officer, Christian evangelical and ex-CIA director favours a muscular approach to diplomacy. His messianic drive to force regime change in Iran is another example. He recently suggested Donald Trump had been sent by God to save Israel from Tehran’s mullahs.

Speaking in Cairo in January, Pompeo celebrated US support for dictators such as Egypt’s Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and the Saudis’ war in Yemen. Next month, he will help unveil a peace plan that could destroy any lingering Palestinian hopes of an independent state. But he makes no apologies. “I’ll put it bluntly. America is a force for good in the Middle East,” he declared. » | Simon Tisdall | Saturday, May 4, 2019

Cameron Kicked EU's Van Rompuy Out of Number 10 after Furious Row over Staging a Vote on Who Gets Brussels Job

The two men clashed after Mr van Rompuy refused to guarantee
allowing a vote on the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker
as President of the European Commission

MAIL ONLINE: Prime Minister called a halt to high level talks about Jean-Claude Juncker / Van Rompuy refused to guarantee a vote, so Cameron showed him the door / In a rare more, Downing Street confirms the meeting ended early / Only Hungary backed Cameron in voting against' Juncker's appointment

Furious David Cameron kicked EU president Herman van Rompuy out of Downing Street after clashing over Brussels jobs, Downing Street confirmed today.

The Prime Minister called a dramatic halt to talks on making Jean-Claude Juncker the new President of the European Commission.

When Mr van Rompuy refused to guarantee a vote of all 28 EU leaders, Mr Cameron declared there is ‘no point in continuing this meeting’ and showed him the door.

Moments after the extraordinary snub, Mr van Rompuy left Number 10, saying nothing to waiting reporters.

The meeting was held ahead of a summit on Friday, where Mr Cameron was to argue against giving Mr Juncker the job. » | Matt Chorley, MailOnline Political Editor | Monday, June 30, 2014

Downing Street: People Faced with Rising Energy Bills Should Consider Wearing Jumpers

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron believes that millions of people facing rising energy bills should consider "wrapping up warm" and wearing jumpers, Downing Street has indicated.

British Gas yesterday announced that it is raising its energy prices for 8million customers by 9.2 per cent, a week after its rival SSE announced similar hikes. Other major companies are expected to follow suit.

Asked about whether people should "wrap up warm" and wear jumpers, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Clearly, he is not going to prescribe the actions that individuals should take but if people are giving that advice that is something that people may wish to consider. » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Friday, October 18, 2013

My comment:

Clearly, this is Cameron's "let them eat cake" moment. (And we all know what happened to Marie Antoinette.) – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

David Miranda Heathrow Detention: No 10 'Kept Abreast of Operation'

BBC: No 10 was "kept abreast" of the decision to detain David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, a spokesman has said.

Mr Miranda was held at Heathrow for nine hours on Sunday, while in transit from Germany to Brazil.

He has launched a legal challenge over the police's use of anti-terror laws to detain him and seize his property.

But Home Secretary Theresa May said the police must act if someone had "highly sensitive stolen information".

Mr Miranda, a 28-year-old Brazilian national, was held at Heathrow on his way from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro where he lives with Mr Greenwald. The Guardian said he had been carrying "journalistic materials" but was not an employee of the newspaper.

Mr Greenwald has broken most of the stories about state surveillance based on the leaks from fugitive Edward Snowden, who used to work at the US National Security Agency.

Mr Miranda said he was held in a room and questioned by six agents about his "entire life". They confiscated his laptop, an additional hard drive, two memory sticks, a mobile phone, a smart watch and a video games console, his lawyers said.

He was required to divulge the passwords to his personal computers, phone and encrypted storage devices, they added. (+ video) » | Tuesday, August 20, 2013

David Cameron and No 10 Are Losing Their Grip on the Reins of Power

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A worrying sense of drift in key policies on health, education and economy is damaging the Prime Minister’s authority.

As David Cameron took yet another battering in the Commons this week over his Government’s health reforms, his mind may have gone back to a moment a few months after he arrived in No 10.

Signs of unease over plans for the reorganisation of the health service were emerging and the PM called Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary. Mr Lansley was away, so two special advisers were invited to Downing Street to give Mr Cameron a five-minute briefing on the reforms. The pair struggled vainly – for much longer than five minutes – to encapsulate the Lansley scheme. As the door closed behind them the PM turned to Steve Hilton, his strategy guru, and said grimly: “We’re f–––ed.”

As a former public relations man, he recognised that if those closest to it could not give him a succinct account of the flagship health policy then it would be nigh on impossible to sell it to the voters. So it is proving. Yet insiders say that the battles over health reform are part of a greater problem. They fear that there is a hole at the very heart of government, that No 10 itself lacks overall direction, that it is losing clout in Whitehall (though it’s not as bad as things became under Gordon Brown).

There are unfavourable comparisons between Tony Blair’s Downing Street and that of David Cameron, particularly when it comes to the calibre of people around the PM. As one senior official put it: “Cameron has brought a welcome return to Cabinet government and nobody wants to go back to the days under Labour when we had sofa government and all decisions were on the basis of 'Tony says…’ But the centre has lost too much clout.” » | Sue Cameron | Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The problem for Cameron is that he came to power through his sheer determination to be prime minister, regardless. I dare say he felt that being prime minister was his birthright. Unfortunately, however, he appears to have given far more consideration to getting the job than he has to what he was going to do once he got it. In a few words, he is not a politician of conviction as Mrs. Thatcher was. Love Maggie or hate her, no-one can deny that she knew exactly where she wanted to get, she knew exactly where she wanted to take the country. And Cameron? Where exactly does he want to take the country? Fact is, he himself probably doesn't even know.

It must also be said that, to his detriment, Cameron is not a strong man. His weakness is written all over his face. In addition, I think many people would agree with me when I say that he is not a natural politician either.

Kudos was always more important to Cameron than policy. Moreover, what does he actually know about the country he is trying to lead? Has he got any idea what life is like for Mr. & Mrs. Average in the street?

Mrs. Thatcher, by contrast, as the daughter of a grocer, had to pull herself up by the bootstraps, and pull herself up by the bootstraps she did, by sheer dint of her determination, perseverance, grit and personality. Alas, Cameron is no male version of Mrs. Thatcher. – © Mark

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'My own civil partner': Nick Clegg, right, laughs along as David Cameron makes a speech at the Gay Pride reception at Number 10. Photo: Mail Online
Cameron Welcomes Gay Celebrities to Number 10
MAIL ONLINE: David Cameron pledged his support for gay rights tonight before jokingly referring to his deputy, Nick Clegg, as 'my own civil partner'.

Gay celebrities and members of the Armed Forces partied at Number 10 as Mr Cameron became the first Tory Prime Minister to reach out to the gay community.

BBC newsreader Jane Hill and Today presenter Evan Davis were among almost 200 guests invited to the Downing Street drinks party.

Others included former Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie, journalist Matthew Parris, and singer Duncan James, of the boy band Blue.

Gay representatives of all three branches of the Armed Forces also attended, in full uniform.

The event was designed to help reposition the new Government as a champion of equality after decades in which the Conservatives have been accused of anti-gay prejudice.

Government sources acknowledged that the No10 event, held in the run-up to the annual Gay Pride festival, was partly designed to repair the damage done.

But a source said it was also a sign of the coalition Government's commitment to equal rights.

Mr Cameron told guests that he backed 'equal rights and equal treatment', adding: 'I'm standing here as leader of the Conservative Party that has not always got that right.' >>> Jason Groves, Jack Doyle, Rachel Quigley and Sophie Freeman | Friday, June 18, 2010

Baroness Thatcher Welcomed by David Cameron at Downing Street
THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has welcomed his predecessor Baroness Thatcher to 10 Downing Street for a private meeting.

The PM came to the door of Number 10 to welcome Lady Thatcher and helped the visibly frail former premier from her limousine.

Lady Thatcher, 84, waved to waiting photographers but made no comment as she entered the address from which she led Britain between 1979 and 1990. >>> | Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Coalition Government: David Cameron and Nick Clegg Get to Work in Downing Street
THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron and Nick Clegg have shaken hands on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street before getting down to the business of running the country.

Mr Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg on the steps of Number 10. Photo: The Telegraph
They have gone to work hours after finally putting together their historic Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition Government.

Mr Cameron, 43, has become the youngest premier since Lord Liverpool almost 200 years ago, and the first Conservative in No 10 since John Major departed 13 years ago.

Mr Clegg has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister, serving as one of five Lib Dem ministers in the new administration.

The Prime Minister promised there would be “hard and difficult work” ahead and said his administration would focus on “rebuilding family, rebuilding community, above all, rebuilding responsibility in our country”. >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Brown Resigns: 'Thank You And Goodbye'

An End to the Worst Thirteen Years in British Politics in Sight! General Election 2010: Gordon Brown and David Cameron Set Stage for May 6 Poll



THE TELEGRAPH: Gordon Brown has called the General Election for May 6 and launched his campaign by calling for a ‘mandate’ to restore the trust between voters and the politicians elected to represent them.

The Prime Minister put the economy at the heart of the campaign by urging the electorate not to risk the recovery by voting for the Conservatives.

Standing in front of his Cabinet, he said: “Britain is on the road to recovery and nothing we do should put that recovery at risk.

"Over the next few weeks I will go round the country - the length and breadth of our land - and I will take to the people a very straightforward and clear message. Britain is on the road to recovery and nothing we do should put that recovery at risk.

"Get the big decisions right - as we did in the last 18 months since the world recession - and jobs, prosperity and better standards of living will result.

"Get the big decisions wrong and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people are diminished as a result."

Disclosing the “worst-kept secret” in politics, Mr Brown confirmed that the General Election would take place on May 6. >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Gordon Brown Issues Easter Greeting
THE TELEGRAPH: Gordon Brown hailed Christians as ''the conscience of our country'' in an Easter greeting posted on the Downing Street website.

Gordon Brown outside Chequers, the Prime Minister's official country residence. Photograph: The Telegraph
The Prime Minister's Good Friday missive hailed the ''redeeming power of faith'' and said the forthcoming official visit of Pope Benedict would make this a special year for the UK.

''Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar because it is when we reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,'' he wrote.

''Christians all over Britain and the world will be celebrating in their homes and churches and thinking about the redeeming power of faith. >>> | Good Friday, April 02, 2010

Warmest Wishes for Easter from the PM
NUMBER 10: The Prime Minister has wished those celebrating Easter all over Britain and the world a happy Easter.

Gordon Brown said how “incredibly grateful” he was to Christian churches for all that they do.

The PM said this year was a particular reason to celebrate, as 2010 will see the first official visit of His Holiness the Pope to Britain.

The PM said: >>> | Good Friday, April 02, 2010

PM: We've Been Building in Jerusalem for 3,000 Years
YNET NEWS: Netanyahu, UK's Gordon Brown meet in London, as pro-Palestinian rally crowds entrance to Downing 10. British premier urges halt of settlement construction, PM stresses: 'Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is the sovereign capital of the State of Israel'

LONDON - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Tuesday afternoon with UK Premier Gordon Brown. Netanyahu had to be ushered into the official Downing Street residence via the back door, as the front entrance was the scene of a pro-Palestinians rally.

The rally, attended by hundreds of people, began about 30 minutes prior to Netanyahu's arrival at Number 10, causing both the British and Israeli security officers present to heighten alert, fearing the Israeli prime minister's convoy may be targeted.

Brown met Netanyahu and Israeli Ambassador to London Ron Prosor at the door, and all three were rushed in by their respective security details.

At some point, several demonstrators tried breaching the secured perimeter, but were stopped by British police. Demonstrators hollered slogans the likes of "Free Palestine" and "Netanyahu's a war criminal," and carried signs reading "Judea and Samaria are Palestinian territory," "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine," and "Let the Palestinians live."

The two held a joint press conference after their meeting, in which Brown said the UK was and is a loyal friend to Israel and that it supports the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Nevertheless, brown stressed that that the demand to halt settlement construction remains in place, as the settlements are what impedes the two-state solution.

Jerusalem, responded Netanyahu, "Is not a settlement. It is the sovereign capital of the State of Israel. We have been building in Jerusalem for 3,000 years." >>> Roni Sofer | Tuesday, 25, 2009

A Government in Denial: Islamisation - ePetition Response
NUMBER 10: We received a petition asking:

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to change government policy on Islamic immigration.”

Details of Petition:

“We, the undersigned, call on the UK government to stop Islamic immigration, save in cases of persons fleeing Sharia ‘justice’ or Islamic ‘honour’ retribution. We call for the reversal of the current trend towards official acceptance of things Islamic: the way of life, the treatment of women and animals, the objections to free speech and artistic expression, the Islamic schools and mosques; in the mistaken belief that integration between Islamic and British communities is possible, a belief at odds with the Islamic immigrant ghettoes and enclaves where other British citizens are unwelcome or even endangered. Existing and proposed Muslim immigrants should be prepared to indicate formally a willingness to adapt to the British way of life in suitably defined ways, with new laws to give effect to the changes. We call for an end to all so-called ‘faith schools’, and to all instances of privileged political status being given to religious organizations.”

The government’s response:

Thank you for your e-petition which calls on the Government to stop Islamic immigration.

Shari’a law is not part of the law in England and Wales and the Government does not believe that there has been an “encroachment of Islam” upon British society. We are also proud that the UK is a welcoming and tolerant society. >>> | Monday, August 10, 2009

Falling at the Feet of the Saudis
THE TELEGRAPH BLOG: I’m not sure that people have properly grasped the enormity of the BAE–Saudi affair. I mean, look at the language the high court used. The judges dismissed Labour’s contention that British jobs (let alone national security) would be at risk. It was, they said, a clear-cut case of our criminal justice system buckling under pressure from a foreign power. This ought to be such stuff as hauls down governments, pulverises reputations. Yet, after a day of harrumphing, the newspapers moved on.

Why is the nation not more outraged? “We fear for the reputation of the administration of justice if it can be perverted by a threat,” said the judges. “It is not difficult to imagine what they [the Saudis] would think if we attempted to interfere with their criminal justice system.” Quite.

So why are we taking it lying down? Why are people who normally care about British sovereignty not up in arms that we should have thrown ourselves at the feet of foreign despots?

The answer is that the whole affair has been brilliantly spun as a principle versus pragmatism issue. Unless you have been following the case with unusual interest, you will probably have formed the inchoate impression that it one of those questions that pits hard-headed hommes d’affaires against woolly-minded peaceniks. Seeing a coalition of anti-arms trade Guardianistas arrayed on one side, many Tories have unthinkingly lined up on the other.

In fact, the contention that British jobs or British interests were at stake appears wholly groundless. The judges who have picked over the whole sorry business believe that the Saudi Prince Bandar “went into Number Ten and said ‘get it stopped’”. All the bluster about security was, they thought, “a useful pretext”. Falling at the Feet of the Saudis >>> By Daniel Hannan

THE TELEGRAPH BLOG:
Grovelling to Oil Despots Demeans Us All >>> By Daniel Hannan

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback - UK)

I Wonder Who’s Paying for This?

Photo courtesy of The Australian

Mark Alexander