The Conservative Party

[metalblue]

two things that will surprise you

1/ it will come out that is exactly what happened time and time again
2/ none of the fuckers will do time for this

Well they absolutely should. No question

 

[metalblue]

Me personally? Absolutely I do. Firstly because I’ve always believed public contracts should be in the public domain. Secondly, I think at a time of economic damage like this, the spending of taxpayer money should be more transparent not less. Thirdly, I want competency first and foremost in a pandemic. This should all have been done by the existing procurement teams. And finally, I want any government regardless of their colour to follow the rule of law.

I’m absolutely shocked at this but fair enough. The process is more important than the outcome to you, regardless of how many people would have died as a result.

On your second point I’ve found someone on the left arguing that money is more important than lives. Will wonders never cease.

On your third point did Matt Hancock do all this directly himself? I’ve not checked so don’t know but would guess he didn’t. So if it weren’t Hancock who was it?

 

[bluethrunthru]

You’re conveniently ignored the question. How would following this law have actually helped in getting supplies to the front line?

oh I dunno - maybe use tried and trust suppliers who already supply stuff - it was clearly out there because any Tom Dick or Harry was getting stuff - and using reputable dealers it would mean they wouldn't be in the situation now with airfields full of containers full of PPE that isn't fit for purpose bought at a cost of £millions

 

[bluethrunthru]

 

[metalblue]

oh I dunno - maybe use tried and trust suppliers who already supply stuff - it was clearly out there because any Tom Dick or Harry was getting stuff - and using reputable dealers it would mean they wouldn't be in the situation now with airfields full of containers full of PPE that isn't fit for purpose bought at a cost of £millions

I suspect they tried the ones they normally used first mate to see if they could cope with the amount they wanted. When they got told no they went to the market.

Totally agree with you on your last point. Did they make a bit of a pigs ear of it? Absolutely they did in some parts. They most likely panicked. Would have following the law they broke have prevented this waste? Hard to say. Benefit of doubt and say yes it would have saved some cash. Would following the law resulted in longer lead times for stuff to get delivered? Yes, absolutely.

I’d even go as far to say as companies that provided substandard stuff should be brought to book.

 

[mat]

Cronyism is double speak for corruption.

This lot are carpet bagging everything before the next GE.

 

[Vic]

Courtesy of "The News Quiz"...

Johnson saying now is not the time for complacency. Bang on, because that was a year ago when he was complacent.

And the right time for quarantining arrivals? Definitely February, but February last year.

 

[meltonblue]

I’m absolutely shocked at this but fair enough. The process is more important than the outcome to you, regardless of how many people would have died as a result.

On your second point I’ve found someone on the left arguing that money is more important than lives. Will wonders never cease.

On your third point did Matt Hancock do all this directly himself? I’ve not checked so don’t know but would guess he didn’t. So if it weren’t Hancock who was it?

Bear in mind I was only answering your first point on whether I cared.

On this, given the outcome of this particular process is purely lack of transparency and potential cronyism and nothing else, then yes. The idea that not publishing contracts post signing them may have had an impact on their ability to sign those contracts at speed in the first place is clearly fucking ridiculous, as is the idea that a pandemic should give carte blanche as to who they sign contracts with and why.

On the second point, I’m not entirely sure how you even get to that, but to clarify my own opinion, I think their approach to both PPE and track and trace cost considerably more than it could have done and also did cost lives. I couldn’t really care how much it cost monetarily in general terms as long as it was to companies that could fulfil the orders and that didn’t get the contract to begin with purely on account of being mates with the right people, as well as having no past experience in the field whatsoever. And I’m not on the left.

Third point, he’s ultimately accountable for the DHSC who proposed it. Clearly wasn’t solely him given it was a cross government initiative though.

 

[Ban-jani]

That’s the other cases going through. You thinking this one is just a publicity stunt is a worrying start though for how you might react to those regardless of the judgment.

I’m a stickler for the law being upheld, as I am sure we all are.

If it comes out this was cronyism then they need to resign but if it’s just them cutting corners in desperation, even if the law was broken, I will have sympathy.

I know full well that one accusation of corruption that made National news, is total bollocks. The timeline was wrong and those involved on the recipient end, laughed when they read it.

That doesn’t mean other accusations aren’t true but there’s a huge difference cutting corners to save lives to cutting corners to get your mates a pay day.

I am sure we agree if it’s the latter they deserve the book thrown at them and if it’s the former they should apologise but we should have sympathy.

 

[meltonblue]

I’m a stickler for the law being upheld, as I am sure we all are.

If it comes out this was cronyism then they need to resign but if it’s just them cutting corners in desperation, even if the law was broken, I will have sympathy.

I know full well that one accusation of corruption that made National news, is total bollocks. The timeline was wrong and those involved on the recipient end, laughed when they read it.

That doesn’t mean other accusations aren’t true but there’s a huge difference cutting corners to save lives to cutting corners to get your mates a pay day.

I am sure we agree if it’s the latter they deserve the book thrown at them and if it’s the former they should apologise but we should have sympathy.

Yes I agree with that.