Within a space of five days in May 2020 there were two parties in 10 Downing Street, in breach of the lockdown relations. All apparently with zero consequences for the organisers and attendees. >>
Here in Ireland we had a somewhat similar episode in August 2020, known as "GolfGate": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oireachta…
Briefly, an informal society of parliamentarians, ex-parliamentarians, judges, and more of the great-and-good held a party which broke the Covid restrictions. >>
Briefly, an informal society of parliamentarians, ex-parliamentarians, judges, and more of the great-and-good held a party which broke the Covid restrictions. >>
The political carnage was swift. Resignations included the Leader of the Seanad, the Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, & Ireland's EU Commissioner.
A prominent broadcaster had his career ended. A Supreme Court judge held on, with his reputation trashed by the Chief Justice. >>
A prominent broadcaster had his career ended. A Supreme Court judge held on, with his reputation trashed by the Chief Justice. >>
Then in 2021 there was ZapponeGate (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine…): another illegal party, this time to celebrate a dodgy public appointment. The appointee withdrew.
That raises a big question: why did similar misconduct make heads roll in Dublin, but not in London? >>
That raises a big question: why did similar misconduct make heads roll in Dublin, but not in London? >>
My theory is that it is NOT a matter of Irish politicians being inherent virtuous and honourable souls whose superior consciences impel them to fall on their swords. >>
Sure, the current PM of the UK has built a whole career on mendacity, but in Ireland we have had decades of public inquires into systemically corrupt politics. Any case for the inherent virtue of Leinster House is implausible. >>
I reckon that what did it is our PRSTV voting system, which makes no safe seats in Dáil Éireann. That makes every TD very vulnerable to angry constituents, who have a wide range of other choices at the next election, often including other candidates from the same party.
So to save their own careers, TDs had to stand up and publicly denounce their miscreant colleagues, and insist on resignations. >>
By contrast, vast numbers of English Tory MPs represent seats which they couldn't lose if they tried. Voters either re-elect the rat wit their own chosen ideology, or get an MP whose ideology will probably be the polar opposite. >>
So those MPs' mumblings are either private or anonymous; their powerless constituents cannot exert enough pressure to push the MP into open rebellion.
#NoAccountability
#NoAccountability
@threadreaderapp please unroll
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