UK Politics Thread (Part 1)

Might be being interpreted from these bits?

The evidence is that this has manifested itself in forceful expression, including some occasions of shouting and swearing

and

It defines bullying as intimidating or insulting behaviour that makes an individual feel uncomfortable, frightened, less respected or put down. Instances of the behaviour reported to the Cabinet Office would meet such a definition.

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What a day though, we get confirmation that Patel is unfit for office, then the PM follows suit :grin:

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Yes, I read the report. None of those extracts from the findings mean that Patel screamed in peopleā€™s faces nor called them abusive names.

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The worst bullies are the ones that donā€™t even realise theyā€™re doing it - which in my view means they view it as perfectly normal to be a cunt to her colleagues.

There is no evidence that she was aware of the impact of her behaviour, and no feedback was given to her at the time.

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But it doesnā€™t say she didnā€™t do those things either?

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She also killed someone and ate their liver whilst cackling like a demon. It doesnā€™t say she didnā€™t so Iā€™m inferring she did.

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No, but as i said, that might be where people are inferring it from. The text does suggest she wasnā€™t calling people abusive names but it wouldnā€™t be a massive leap of judgement to picture her screaming in peopleā€™s faces based on that wording.

Until we get a clearer idea of the contents of the report itself we probably wont know either way, but personally I feel the fact that the reportā€™s author resigned speaks volumes.

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You are indeed very right. But, Iā€™ve not seen any twitter/news reports that claims she ate their liver whilst cackling like a demon but there are reports of her shouting abuse at her colleagues.

Something about smoke and fire.

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I agreeā€¦we ought to wait for a clearer idea of the full contents of the report before ascribing behaviour to someone that may not have happened. Thatā€™s my point really.

For me the resignation was not because Patel wasnā€™t sacked by the PM. Lots of ministers have found to have broken the ministerial code over the years and not been disciplined let alone sacked. I think the main reason he resigned is that Sir Alex considered the behaviour breached the code (although he stresses it needs to be seen in context) whereas Johnson considers that there hasnā€™t been a breach of the code.

Sir Alex appears to accept that Johnson can take his finding and decide on the appropriate sanction (if any) and heā€™d have no problem with that. But Johnson actually disputes the finding itself and that is a problem.

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Yes, and Iā€™ve seen those claims repeated here and Iā€™ve seen journalists say that in any other job sheā€™d be sacked. However, there are no findings to that effect in what has been published so far and journalists tend to say shit thatā€™s untrue simply to sensationalise.

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In short - donā€™t trust journos - regardless of their affiliation to a political view/side.

On Patel - Iā€™m with you, got to wait till the report comes out. Regardless of whether sheā€™s eaten livers, or called her colleagues abusive names, and before this was even a thing, Iā€™ve never liked her and that wonā€™t change.

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To be fair, not covered in the ministerial code.

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So is the reserve position (for now) that she does not know the consequences of her actions?

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Northern Ireland. Now I understand the need for a consensus government, bringing all the parties together, to materialize the GFA and put an end to the violence.

But is it working, or worth keeping, anymore. What can a government deliver, that has SF and DUP forced to share. It rather looks like the Lebanese government which allocates positions of power on clans and sects and has absolutely no accountability.

Is what worth keeping? Northern Ireland? The Belfast Agreement (GFA)? Stormont? :thinking:

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The type of government that combines all the parties rather than a government by the party or coalition of majority.

I donā€™t know if their present form of government and GFA are entwined. So apologies for any misunderstanding.

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I would have to defer to those in Northern Ireland but power sharing seems like a necessary intermediate solution. In time Northern Ireland may well be ready to move towards a more traditional model (if it obtains greater autonomy etc) but, for me, it remains crucial that significant political groups are not marginalised and that they are forced to work together rather than at the behest of one party or another. I think it was the only way of moving forward.

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I totally agree. But is it working anymore? I understand Northern Ireland was without a government for two years including large part of the period during the Corona.

It could be worse, it could be Belgium.

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Yeahā€¦but can she actually do that?? Isnā€™t she like four feet tall or something??

Screaming at peopleā€™s chests?

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