Thread by @PandaScottish

[thread]

I want to dedicate this thread to Margaret Thatcher

And I am going to talk about a number (240)

So I want to talk about four people

And I want you to use your imagination

Imagine you are

1. @GregHands
2. @Jacob_Rees_Mogg
3. @bbclaurak
4. @WestminsterWAG

So the reason we are starting with @GregHands is quite simple

https://twitter.com/RidgeOnSunday/status/1638655204399935488

Question from @SophyRidgeSky: 'Is Boris Johnson a man of integrity?'

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

So

It is a simple question

"Is Boris Johnson a man of integrity?"

It is a yes/no question

Greg cannot answer yes.

Instead

"I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

Now that response is weird

You see

There is always a tweet

Question from @SophyRidgeSky: 'Is Boris Johnson a man of integrity?'

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

What does it say about Greg not only that his lie and escape response is so utterly pathetic?

If you search Greg's twitter timeline

twitter.com/search?q=integ…

and if you search Hansard

hansard.parliament.uk/search/MemberC…

So there is a second part to Greg's answer

"His great strength is his ability to campaign, his ability to galvanise voters as part of a broader Conservative family... I am confident that Boris Johnson can be a campaigning asset"

Now I actually detest this

Because it reduces your evaluation of him as a human being

To the transactional return it provides

Even I am not that cruel to Boris Johnson

Over the last 13 years lying racist charlatans have deliberately deflected from austerity by

1 - conflating "immigrants" into one lump

2 - reduced them purely to a cost benefit analysis of their economic return & LYING ABOUT THAT

Their value & worth lies beyond just a £ sign

Sorry

I got a bit ranty there about racists

I do apologise

To ,make up for it

Here's a thread where I defend Boris Johnson from charges of racism

https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1414542431106777090

Now I am going to come back to Greg in a moment

But first I want to focus on @Jacob_Rees_Mogg

and again as with Greg a simple question , this time asked by @cathynewman

facebook.com/watch/?v=63729…

I transcribed it a while back for a thread I did specifically on a moral compass

the key line

again as with Greg , it's a yes/no question

CN: “Do you think that Boris Johnson has a moral compass?”

JRM: “I’m sure he has clear view of what he wants to do”

the old thread I wrote on Jacob Rees Mogg and a moral compass is here, I'm not going to unravel it here as I am going on a different journey in this thread

https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1201096472235847681

So

I have introduced Greg and Jacob

And how they fail to answer a basic question about Boris Johnson

I want to turn now to a simple question

What does the Conservative & Unionist Party stand for?

What are its values?

Show your working.

So here's my working

This took a bit of time

But I searched the Margaret Thatcher archive and for all 240 occasions where she uses the word integrity (in relation to an individual) and not territorial integrity I have listed them below

Oh and of the 240 the ones where she does talk of territorial integrity I will come to later as it also is quite relevant to the next individual we will be talking about @bbclaurak

Here's the full search results

margaretthatcher.org/search?w=integ…

So a reminder:

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

26/4/1961

Mrs. Thatcher, replying to the toast listed the qualities a local government officer should have.

“You need something much more than a good brain, more than a good brain coupled with integrity”

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

22/6/1963

Mrs. Thatcher:

“The Prime Minister (Macmillan) is a man of the highest integrity and honour and should not, therefore, suffer for someone whose standards were not as high as his own.”

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

31/10/1964

Here is a man of the utmost integrity and of great ability.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

13/8/1965

Sir Alec Douglas-Home brought to politics outstanding qualities, integrity, selflessness, courage & a capacity for getting people to work together. He knew nothing of cynicism nor of artifice.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

10/3/1966

in Edward Heath we have a man of ACTION, INTEGRITY and PURPOSE—a fitting leader for a great nation.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

17/4/1969

Britain, she claimed, would never have been so great without Conservative rule, which was carried out with integrity and justice.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

28/5/1970

Our Conservative Manifesto is called “A Better Tomorrow” . This means more than a prosperous tomorrow. We want a nation with high standards of integrity, tolerance and personal responsibility.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

8/4/1978

Personal liberty. Rule of law—a moral code.

It was these which led to that initiative, independence, integrity and duty which have become the hallmark of the British character the world over.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

29/4/1978

we want them to live in a society,

— where our traditional rule of law is upheld—a just and impartial law; which has truly been the guardian of our liberties. [end p14]

A society—where relations between individuals are conducted on a basis of integrity and trust;

2/5/1979

The Britain I want is a country which once again is known throughout the world for its integrity, its industry, the calibre of its people and its valiant championship of justice and truth.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

1/7/1980

There is no one of greater integrity in this House (on Sir Keith Joseph)

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

27/2/1981

Those of us who are here realize what this two o'clock in the morning courage means, what a lonely job it is...t you (Ronald Reagan) have total integrity

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

14/5/1982

you have given us three most distinguished Scots Tory PMs, including.. Alec Home. He set so many of the standards of integrity in politics which my generation tries to emulate and follow.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

17/5/1982

Well, it occurs through the Perez de Cuellar Secretary General of the United Nations who is being very very active indeed. A person of total integrity

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

19/5/1982

I would like to say that I think that we are all lucky to have Mr. de Cuellar as Secretary General. He is a person himself of great integrity

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

8/7/1982

the Committee have been anxious to select people who have the right experience, sagacity and integrity to conduct the review. I believe that that is how it will be seen outside.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

14/7/1982

Your performance in first half year of Office first rate. Integrity and energy have brought organisation consideration credit. Future of UN could not be in better hands.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

15/9/1982

the [end p6] British Council has a wonderful reputation the world over, as you know, for the excellent work it does and for its total integrity.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

21/9/1982

Throughout history we in Britain have always been an outward looking people, seeking discovery and adventure.

A people with tolerance, integrity, steadfastness and courage.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

13/5/1983

We are seen today as a people with integrity, resolve and the will to succeed.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

18/5/1983

We are seen today as a people with integrity, resolve and the will to succeed.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

14/11/1983

The City's success is built on trust. That trust comes from lasting integrity.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

20/1/1984

Now, we still have—can I put it this way—and I hope it doesn't sound pompous—I still think we have a certain integrity in the world. I find it wherever I go.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

10/11/1984

She paid tribute to Mr Reagan 's integrity saying: “I think he's a marvellous guy.”

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

16/1/1985

It is that professional integrity which gives the College (Royal College of Nursing) and its Members their high standing in the community.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

2/9/1985

Can I say this to the media: I have said goodbye to some marvellous Ministers who served Britain to the highest standards of public service with so much integrity and sense of duty.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

2/10/1985

I suppose this kind of integrity. You first sort out what you believe in. You then apply it. You then must argue your case, but you do not say: “Well I am going to do it because someone else did it!” and always you do not compromise on things that matter.

2/10/1985

Now, we were brought up that Britain was the best in the world because she had standards of honesty and integrity and law.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

26/2/1986

Jimmy Young to MT

2 of your strongest attributes, your integrity & patriotism; even people who didn't like you, or didn't like your politics, never queried those things before.Can you re-convince the public those 2qualities are as sound as they were once perceived ?

25/3/1986

Mr Fletcher to MT

Will she also accept that the Conservative Benches and the country have every confidence in her personal integrity?

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

14/5/1986

You have led the United Nations with energy, integrity and good sense.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

21/5/1986

Your (Keith Joseph) integrity, selflessness and thought for others are an example to us all. I am so happy that Her Majesty The Queen has graciously consented to make you a Companion of Honour.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

15/11/1986

I believe implicitly in the President's total integrity on that subject.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

7/1/1987

One day this country will know what it owes to him. A person of total integrity.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

3/1/1988

If you look, the things for which Britain used to be known were a fundamental sense of fairness, integrity, honesty and courtesy for your neighbour and for people who came to visit us.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

19/1/1988

So this bicentenary .... it is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to those fundamental values and the integrity and the sense of fairness which goes with them.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

10/2/1988

On Lord Hailsham
Qualities of intellect, integrity, vigour, scholarship and powerful advocacy.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

25/4/1988

What made Britain great was the character of her people, the initiative, the integrity, the enterprise

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

21/6/1988

And one has to ask why that there were certain accepted standards of dealing one with another, certain standards of courtesy, consideration and integrity.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

18/7/1988

So yes it does irritate me because for years we had the reputation of supreme integrity, Britain was always a very honest country, and I think as a matter of fact we still have that reputation.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

17/11/1988

He (George Bush) had a pretty good stature, you know, as Vice-President. A man of total integrity, enormous hard work, very very wide international experience.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

17/11/1988

He (George Bush) has enormous integrity, enormous loyalty to certain principles and values, a marvellous family and he does really care about the future of the things he believes in.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

22/11/1988

A birthday toast to Lord Forte

But it's the personal qualities—the charm, the courtesy, the kindness, above all the total integrity that we especially remember this evening

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

5/12/1988

I think that there is far more goodness and decency and honourableness in people as a whole than there is evil and it is that goodness and decency and honourableness and integrity that we rely on working together to overcome the other things.

1/4/1989

It is an extremely important role and we are proud of our people who are doing it and we know that it will be carried out with total integrity, total professionalism

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

26/5/1989

Today, having won a reputation for steadfastness, integrity and success, we have an influence in the world which we have not enjoyed these past forty years.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

24/7/1989

your (Paul Channon MP) utter integrity and decency were of great importance in maintaining public confidence.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

29/1/1990

We remember his integrity and his dedication and we remember that among other things how he stood up to appalling national disasters, to which the whole world responded

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

13/2/1990

We know you, Prime Minister, as a man of supreme integrity and utter dedication.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

12/5/1990

The rule of law is the rock on which democracy stands. Not to uphold it is to risk the rule of anarchy. That's not a slur on anyone's integrity. It's a comment on where equivocation can lead you.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

22/5/1990

I think everyone has been impressed with President de Klerk 's integrity and courage.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

12/11/1990

The success of a financial centre depends on willingness to take risks & make markets, ...it depends on integrity.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

21/2/1991

The marks of Lord Jakobovits' leadership have been unyielding commitment to principle, a refusal to seek easy popularity at the expense of integrity and a fearless statement of values .... of lasting relevance and general application to the modern world.

21/5/1991

Chief Luthuli led the ANC with absolute integrity and great personal authority. So much so that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

24/9/1991

You, Boutros Boutros Ghali Secretary General have by your skill, persistance and integrity greatly enhanced the authority of your office.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

11/1/1996

Integrity is an old fashioned word. There are even some who will tell you it is an old fashioned thing. But, for a politician, integrity is everything.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

22/11/1996

there was Nicholas Ridley's integrity. The really honest, honourable man is not always popular. He makes people uneasy because he says what they half-thought –and would rather they hadn't.

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

25/6/1998

I first met President Ford, who more than qualifies in both categories, when I was very much a novice opposition leader. He brought dignity and integrity to the highest office in his country

@GregHands "I'm in the business of politics, not moral judgement calls"

21/8/2001

Iain Duncan Smith holds a principled position and he has fought for it with energy and honour. When he is criticised for lacking ministerial experience, it should be remembered that he does so only because he put his integrity before his ambition.

Now I have reached the end of the 240 results that talked of integrity in relation to a person.

Which is your favourite ?

Its a crowded field - but this stands out

"Integrity is an old fashioned word. There are even some who will tell you it is an old fashioned thing. But, for a politician, integrity is everything."

Now to talk about territorial integrity.

Again because this relates to the working in the answer of what does the Conservative & Unionist Party stand for

So we turn now to @bbclaurak and @StephenFlynnSNP

https://twitter.com/Haggis_UK/status/1627239355575156736

SF “we’re in this situation because Boris Johnson lied.”

LK “that’s quite a charge”.

SF: “It’s true, though, because Boris Johnson said his deal was oven ready and he made it out as if there would be no issues and quite obviously there are extreme issues with the protocol.”

so I would actually correct @@StephenFlynnSNP

the issue is not the lie that the deal was oven ready

the issue is the lie that Vote Leave said they had many solutions to the NI border prior to 23/6/2016

the chief snake oil peddler who deployed that lie was @PennyMordaunt

I have pointed this out to her many times

She still in the 2000+ days since 23/6/2016 has not told anyone what those many solutions are

But my focus is not on the lies of Vote Leave with relation to Northern Ireland

I did a thread on that

https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1357270164174159872

My focus instead is on the reaction of @bbclaurak

"that's quite a charge"

I think @mrjamesob summed up my feelings there

https://twitter.com/reece_dinsdale/status/1628775948672811012

I am going to quote from this from @bbclaurak

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…

"The public knows this. We don't expect our politicians to be angels. But outright lying, in my experience, is relatively rare. It is too easily found out."

You see what she did there?

She goes for an extreme

I don't expect my politicians to be "angels" or "saints" or "the messiah" or "God"

I expect them to hold to some basic standards of ethics

That's all

To return to Northern Ireland

The question is

Having known they had no solutions to NI

Having "won" brexit

What was Boris Johnson and his MPs prepared to do to "get brexit done"

The answer .... well

https://twitter.com/ByDonkeys/status/1184738823420502016

So here's a Conservative election poster from 1959

A handy resource for any one looking for historic election materials

digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/collections/po…

Again a simple question

What does the Conservative & Unionist Party stand for

Here's Margaret's word's juxtaposed with Boris Johnson's

Margaret Thatcher once said "The manner of winning is a matter of honour"

I disagree

As what you do with that "win" also reflects on your "honour"

But anyway enough about that

I want to return at the last to @WestminsterWAG

and her coverage the day after the Privileges Committee questioned Boris Johnson on #Partygate

now you actually can in a weird way

take a positive from this

as Ian says

https://twitter.com/IanDunt/status/1638834877641682944

also summed up here

https://twitter.com/davidyelland/status/1638799405699432449

also summed up here

https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1638889078467842048

and here - a photo of the prayer itself

https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1638889078467842048

Now Margaret Thatcher once upon a time

Spoke to the Institute of Journalists

Here's the first part of her speech and then I will juxtapose the second with another image in a minute

I did do a long thread ages ago on @WestminsterWAG and @SarahVine and the "awesome responsibility" they had following 23/6/2016

https://twitter.com/pandascottish/status/1260571730751471616

so

there is

a key point

the people who KNOW BEST who and what Boris Johnson is

how he behaves

how he lies

how he deceives

how he says anything to get through the next 60 seconds

are the people who have worked beside him

at the last

after all the various deflections, diversions, ducking, dodging and denials they employ

they return to "we knew what he was"

or "well we know what he is but what about you"

or "he's no angel/saint etc..."

a reminder of the word cloud from the start of partygate

it hasn't really changed much from then to the current day

the only point is now as Jacob Rees Mogg seek to ask us to "move on" or peddle wilful shite

they are afraid

of owning up to what they have always known

a reminder of the word cloud from the start of partygate

it hasn't really changed much from then to the current day

the only point is now as Jacob Rees Mogg seek to ask us to "move on" or peddle wilful shite

they are afraid

of owning up to what they have always known

it does feel like the closing of a loop

so as it started with a party in 2001

where the band played a song that captured Boris perfectly & the audience laughed at the notion of him being Prime Minister

a media baron pledged his fealty and backing to the ascent of the King

so it ends with a party

https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1638192349657329667

Just try a simple exercise

Imagine you were Josephine or Elizabeth

And you knew exactly how the Prime Minister was behaving

How would you react?

How would you explain it to your children?

How do you explain the importance of values to a child?

facebook.com/watch/?v=55460…

I personally think Boris Johnson is an inspiration

Of what happens when you are prepared to do anything in pursuit of self, career & power

He is terrified - "Project Fear" you might say

of one thing - how it impacts his wages

https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1374286271732928513

@threadreaderapp unroll please