The news in tweets: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Who thought we could see this again? It perfectly sums up Boris Johnson’s behaviour towards the Covid Inquiry over his mobile phone and the WhatsApp messages therein.
Boris Johnson refuses to hand over mobile phone containing Covid WhatsApps by inquiry deadline
This is more complicated than it seems. If you were to take Carol Vorderman’s tweet at face value…
THIS is important.
Boris Johnson fails to hand over the mobile phone with his Covid WhatsApps before the inquiry deadline.Where does it go from here?
Is he arrested? I've no idea.https://t.co/OOqZuRsUO5— Carol Vorderman (@carolvorders) July 10, 2023
… you might think she was saying he hasn’t handed over any of the WhatsApp messages he received and sent at that time. This is not true.
The story is about “Phone 1” – the telephone he used up until April 2021, but (allegedly) switched off amid claims that it could have been hacked by a foreign power.
Johnson himself reckons he is trying to comply with the Covid Inquiry’s demand for the information but is working with government security officials on a way to turn on the old phone without creating a security emergency.
But here’s the thing: the security breach happened long ago – he switched the phone off (he says) because it emerged that his phone number had been public knowledge for 15 years. Apparently this means it could have been hacked.
In that case, it seems to sane people, he should have left it on and handed it to the security people two years ago, so they could work out what possibly compromising information could have been lifted from it by hostile foreign governments (or even teenage hackers living down the road).
He didn’t do that, so…
Johnson failed to comply with a high court order and did not return his phone containing evidence for the COVID inquiry. We can all make reasonable assumptions why. When will Johnson be arrested? pic.twitter.com/eocEe9ErLg
— Dr Martin Opposes Gov’t Corruption (@MartinRemains) July 11, 2023
Yes. When will that happen?
Oh, and it should be possible to retrieve the WhatsApp messages by other means anyway. Why haven’t these “experts” tried that already?
Government response to ‘Kindertransport’ lord on removal of mural at child refugee centre is shockingly insensitive
Lord Alf Dubs, who was himself once a refugee from a foreign country (Germany before World War II – he was a Jewish child who arrived on the Kindertransport) asked the government why it cruelly ordered that a welcoming mural at a child refugee centre in Kent should be over-painted. Here’s the response:
This is the 3rd time I’m retweeting this but another thought; this puffed up little Lord is addressing someone who arrived on the Kindertransport – his response is vile at every possible level, including its insensitivity towards & disrespect for Lord Dubs, who is visibly shaken. https://t.co/zb9GV0lh27
— Jessica Simor KC (@JMPSimor) July 10, 2023
Jessica Simor is right: it is incredibly insensitive of this Tory lord to tell a fellow peer – who was welcomed into the UK as a child – that national policy is now to make the country as unwelcoming as possible.
It seems the government has regressed – de-civilised – during the last 13 years of Tory misrule.
The big Tory wage lie
Read:
Telly this morning says wages are growing at record highs….
Wages are 0.8% slower than inflation which means in real terms wages have fallen.
In fact wages are now below what they were in 2003. Not record highs but 20 year lows.
Telly was fibbing.
— Tory Fibs (@ToryFibs) July 11, 2023
Why would the Tories say wages are rising at record rates?
Could it be to justify their demand that they need to be held down in order to slow inflation?
If so, it’s a false argument – as Richard Burgon makes clear:
Let's be clear: today's figures show real wages FALLING.
Wages aren't driving inflation. Corporate profits are having a much bigger impact.
To fight inflation, it's not wages we need to cut but profits – through an excess-profits tax and price caps to stop firms hiking prices.
— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) July 11, 2023
Here’s some proof about the corporate profits:
Sainsbury’s CEO gets paid almost £4m in bonuses, on top of his salary. He’s on £2,298 per hour, while Sainsbury workers are getting £11 per hour.
And we get told workers salaries are driving inflation.
Rubbish, it’s the greed of the elite driving inflation.
— Howard Beckett (@BeckettUnite) July 11, 2023
Sainsbury’s wouldn’t be paying its chief executive so much if he wasn’t raking in the Long Green.
So it’s definitely the big profits that are pushing up inflation. And what is the Tory government doing about it?
Look:
Chancellor says schools and hospitals must make savings to fund recommended pay rises. https://t.co/IEXj3b9F5B
— Robert Peston (@Peston) July 10, 2023
And here’s a pertinent comment on that choice:
Jeremy Hunt says that pay rises for teachers will have to be funded by making savings in schools and hospitals.
It’s funny how he managed to fund a £1 billion tax break to give to the wealthiest 1% earlier this year, but can’t find money for workers.
Priorities.
— Breakthrough Party 🟠🌤️ (@BThroughParty) July 11, 2023
He’s joined in his crackdown on your livelihood by fellow millionaire Andrew Bailey, head honcho at the Bank of England:
Multi-millionaires Andrew Bailey and Jeremy Hunt demand UK wage restraint.
Average real wage unchanged sine 2005. Nothing trickled-down.
Inflation caused by profiteering – need price controls, windfall taxes on profiteers, end tax perks of the rich.https://t.co/JdyUo0jcSu
— Prem Sikka (@premnsikka) July 11, 2023
Is this the reason Ed Balls tried to dominate the discussion of George Osborne’s wedding on Monday?
I am told that the Osbornes and the Balls/Coopers have been holidaying together for a few years now
George and Ed play squash weekly and enjoy collecting stamps together
Recently they have set up a company to manage the finances of the super-rich
Does all this make them… https://t.co/tgk777W90A
— Tom London (@TomLondon6) July 11, 2023
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the right margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Join the uPopulus group at https://upopulus.com/groups/vox-political/
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
On first impressions, it does appear that the Covid Inquiry Commitee are doing a very thorough job, good for them.
My only apprehension about Committees is that usually :-
1. They take a Good idea by the hand, lead it gently into an Alley and Slowly Beat It To Death.
2. They are a body of people who pool their ignorance and come out with the wrong solution and/or conclusion.
Two of my favourite definitions that have almost always been proven true in my experience.