[The Weeping Angel]

Who will this Corbyn 2 be?

[Crabcakes]

Yes but that's depending on a lot of things falling into place at once.

I think it’s the exact opposite: there’s only 1 real scenario - a quick but thorough statement of “no case to answer” - that really works to Labour’s advantage. Everything else at best gives Johnson free dead cat headlines, at worst gives him an opportunity to cash in on a decent man doing what he never would to perpetuate his rotten premiership.

[Crabcakes]

Who will this Corbyn 2 be?

Literally doesn’t matter. Any bogeyman you want. The ads will be “Vote Labour, get xxx”.

[mattomac]

They would need a quick election but I’m resigned to the fact we are heading to something that isn’t a Democracy. Something very odd about the entire thing almost chilling to the bone in fact.

Of course they knew this morning that they were heading for bad results so what a perfect present appears via the Telegraph first off at lunchtime. I think the police have some questions to answer about this and they can’t hide behind official communications.

Rayner turning up an hour before the photos doesn’t to me particular constitute new evidence and Starmer by their own rules won’t be fined as they don’t do them retrospectively as they will probably have to consider Johnson in the pub as well. (This was in the Telegraph article itself so I think we know where this is heading).

The only thing I can think of is the pressure has required for them to go over everything again, That makes sense.

If Starmer does stand down then Labour need to be quick in electing a new leader. I think with the resurgent LDs though their 80 seat majority is dust.

[Boiler]

Yes but that's depending on a lot of things falling into place at once.

I think it’s the exact opposite: there’s only 1 real scenario - a quick but thorough statement of “no case to answer” - that really works to Labour’s advantage. Everything else at best gives Johnson free dead cat headlines, at worst gives him an opportunity to cash in on a decent man doing what he never would to perpetuate his rotten premiership.

I have this thing in my head that if Durham police move to prosecute, then someone will be saying "Okay, so what about Cummings then? You let him off" and so it drags on.

[Oboogie]

I admit I had an initial panic when I first heard that Durham police were reopening the investigation, "What if Starmer's guilty - he'll have to resign!" But, having calmed down and mulled it over, I can't escape the conclusion that there are only two possible explanations for lockdown rules having been broken:

1. Starmer is incapable of reading and understanding legislation and didn't know what the law was. A quick glance at his CV suggests that is somewhat improbable.
or
2. He is so stupid that he didn't think there was any risk attached to breaking the law during a high profile by-election whilst a hostile media were sniffing around. Don't forget that the Labour campaign team were housed in a building far less secure and private than Downing Street, so a party thrown by Starmer would have a far higher chance of being seen than one of Johnson's.

Neither seems very plausible to me.

[mattomac]

More I’m reading about this new evidence the more I’m feeling it’s a review of it and whether any threshold has been broken it seems to have all come from the Tories and includes a autocorrect it seems.

The fact it leaked via the Telegraph makes me think some thing is slightest dubious about it.

[Bones McCoy]

I admit I had an initial panic when I first heard that Durham police were reopening the investigation, "What if Starmer's guilty - he'll have to resign!" But, having calmed down and mulled it over, I can't escape the conclusion that there are only two possible explanations for lockdown rules having been broken:

1. Starmer is incapable of reading and understanding legislation and didn't know what the law was. A quick glance at his CV suggests that is somewhat improbable.
or
2. He is so stupid that he didn't think there was any risk attached to breaking the law during a high profile by-election whilst a hostile media were sniffing around. Don't forget that the Labour campaign team were housed in a building far less secure and private than Downing Street, so a party thrown by Starmer would have a far higher chance of being seen than one of Johnson's.

Neither seems very plausible to me.

This matters little.
The only Tory objective was to get "What about Starmer" into the public discourse.
Job done.
No cost mealy mouthed apologies and retractions to follow.

[davidjay]

And now, if the police say move along nothing to see, it's because the PCC is Labour #scummedia Remainer conspiracy.

Trial by Twitter.

[Boiler]

And now, if the police say move along nothing to see, it's because the PCC is Labour #scummedia Remainer conspiracy.

Trial by Twitter.

Well, they let Cummings off...

[Oboogie]

And now, if the police say move along nothing to see, it's because the PCC is Labour #scummedia Remainer conspiracy.

Trial by Twitter.

Already started. In the famous photo, a head of grey hair is just visible above the windowsill. As the PCC also has grey hair, this proof positive that they were present.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Starmer would have to resign if he got a penalty, I think. He's rightly not answered questions about that so far though, because that would put Durham Police in a difficult position.

[Boiler]

Keir Starmer should consider position if fined, says Diane Abbott

[Youngian]

Starmer would have to resign if he got a penalty, I think. He's rightly not answered questions about that so far though, because that would put Durham Police in a difficult position.

Its a lose-lose outcome for Johnson. Whoever dreamt up this bungling plan shows the PM can’t get the staff these days.

Diane Molotov in a suicide pact with the Tories thinks her mischief might get herself or Burgon on a leadership ballot.

Keir Starmer should consider position if fined, says Diane Abbott

[Tubby Isaacs]

I don't think there's much will to push a Jez candidate at the moment. Luckily Jez has shit all over the bed with his NATO stuff.

[Oboogie]

I doubt any Jez candidate would get the 20% nominations required to get on the ballot, but they could generate a lot of negative headlines driving many voters away during their campaign.

[Tubby Isaacs]

If they don't get on the ballot, there's not really any problem. Nobody knows who Richard Burgon is, let alone thinks he's running the Labour Party.

[Youngian]

Jez and Di are sticking the boot into Starmer, they have nothing else in the bag but to dream of a new dawn from his demise.

[Boiler]

I doubt any Jez candidate would get the 20% nominations required to get on the ballot, but they could generate a lot of negative headlines driving many voters away during their campaign.

I ain't so sure about the former but definitely the latter.

[Boiler]

Jez and Di are sticking the boot into Starmer, they have nothing else in the bag but to dream of a new dawn from his demise.

And once again Labour will squabble over whose ideology is best, each calling for "the other" to be purged/proscribed whilst ignoring the people queuing up at food banks.

Christ, I hope I'm wrong.