Boris Johnson escapes punishment for the Downing Street flat payment fiasco – 11 scathing responses
The independent adviser appointed to investigate allegations of wrongdoing with regard to the refurbishment of the Prime Minister’s Downing StREET flat is apparently set to announce that Boris Johnson will escape sanctions, but will face criticism for ‘the mess’.
🚨 Scoop: Boris Johnson set to be cleared by Lord Geidt over donation for Downing St flat refurbishment
“Geidt makes clear the situation is a total mess but the fundamental conclusion is that the PM did not deceive and did not break the ministerial code”https://t.co/fUhwDMPPLg
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) December 30, 2021
Lord Geidt had already declared that Boris Johnson hadn’t broken the ministerial code over the incident, but revelations of messages from Johnson asking for more money from Tory donor, Lord Brownlow, prior to claiming that he had no knowledge of the peer’s donation had called that into question.
+UPDATE+
Lord Geidt clears Boris Johnson a 2nd time of improper behaviour & lying over donations.
The 2nd investigation was required after Boris Johnson was found to have lied in the 1st investigation. https://t.co/6Kk8gq56V5
— Nick🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@nicktolhurst) December 30, 2021
According to The Financial Times, the process will come under fire, rather than the people acting within it.
Geidt is expected to blame process, not Johnson, for lack of clarity over the donation:
"Reasons have been put forward about why certain details, like the WhatsApp messages, were not put forward. He has gone back over the first report in a lot of detail"https://t.co/fUhwDMPPLg
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) December 30, 2021
Tweeters weren’t exactly shocked by the news that the PM would, once again, be absolved of responsibility for his apparent disregard of the rules.
1.
Please don't criticise Lord Geit – he's only doing his job, which is to exonerate me no matter how corrupt I am. https://t.co/NdyuApEPfl
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) December 30, 2021
2.
so the man Boris Johnson hired to clear him of any wrongdoing over donations for the no 10 flat refurbishment is set to clear him of any wrongdoing over donations for the no 10 flat refurbishment this is an unexpected turn of events
— dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻 (@davemacladd) December 30, 2021
3.
“The PM did not deceive and did not break the ministerial code” https://t.co/cHNilrujuZ pic.twitter.com/86HuHxJMnT
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) December 30, 2021
4.
Chances? https://t.co/lo8i2HBYDK
— Otto English (@Otto_English) December 30, 2021
5.
What a fkn surprise. https://t.co/QKEasZJe3X
— Incorrigible FCA (@ImIncorrigible) December 30, 2021
6.
“The prime minister has apologised for some of the circumstances around the initial investigation, which Lord Geidt has accepted.”
That’s it? That’s how it works? This is really pathetic. No wonder Johnson flourishes in this environment. https://t.co/Th3anlzuka
— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) December 30, 2021
7.
So,
-PM appoints Lord Geidt
-Lord Geidt investigates PM
-PM cleared https://t.co/nkioL23JWu— Paul Johnson (@paul__johnson) December 30, 2021
8.
There will be no whitewash at Downing Street.. mainly because the new wallpaper is already up https://t.co/cM3Hq9FFjL
— Ian Ford (@ij_ford) December 30, 2021
9.
The Establishment, and how they get away with it. https://t.co/9z9gN64rq9
— Owen Jones 🌳🌹 (@OwenJones84) December 30, 2021
10.
Tomorrow on BBC news: "Did the PM actually breach ministerial standards? We'll be asking expert on standards Boris Johnson what he thinks". https://t.co/KMcANs9B8R
— Mike Holden 💙 (@MikeHolden42) December 30, 2021
11.
What a convenient excuse, one I shall now use myself, as in "I wasn't speeding, officer, it was the "process" of driving that broke the limits". Johnson also not guilty of Brexit related damage, of trying to get Paterson off, of partying last December etc etc? All just "process"! https://t.co/8mOtwxSx85
— alexandra hall hall (@alexhallhall) December 30, 2021
Perhaps Lord Geidt had outside guidance.
Lord Geidt called in the Met Police to assist in the investigation into Boris Johnson’s flat refurbishment #TorySleaze #LiarJohnson pic.twitter.com/mtEWrBIBvC
— Kevin Anthony 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇫🇮🇮🇹#FBPA (@KevinAn48751902) December 30, 2021
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Emily Maitlis on the Boris Johnson flat refurbishment row went viral because she totally nails it
Source Sebastian Payne Image Screengrab
