Michael Gove dodged commenting on partygate gongs, and Laura Kuenssberg let him off the hook

Gove and Kuenssberg discussing partygate


Support us and go ad-free

A new video has emerged showing staffers at Tory HQ dancing their little black hearts out despite the pandemic measures their own party implemented.

While we’re all used to the sight of rule-breaking Tories revelling in their own piss-taking, one thing stands out. Some of those pictured have just received honours – despite the new partygate video. So, enter Michael Gove to defend them, and Laura Kuenssberg to, well, do what she always does.

Two of the Tory revellers will be getting gongs:

In response to the footage, so-called ‘levelling up’ secretary Gove has slithered out to defend these rule-breakers. He argued they should keep the honours which disgraced former prime minister Boris Johnson recently bestowed upon them.

The partygate-to-peer pipeline

The recently released partygate video features several Tory staffers partaking in what’s alleged to be ‘dancing’:

This display would be sickening enough even if they weren’t sticking two fingers up to all those who followed the rules or had to let loved ones die alone – not to mention all those who died as a result of Tory pandemic fuck-ups.

Those honoured include former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey, who we already knew had broken the rules from photographic evidence. According to the Independent, Bailey attended an “apparent lockdown Christmas party at Conservative Party headquarters in 2020”. With the release of this latest video, it really couldn’t be much more “apparent”.

Carol Vorderman drew attention to the other man receiving honours. Although it may be optimistic to think the right-leaning groups employing him have a sense of honour she can appeal to:

Gove: ‘I respect due process’

So why does Gove think it’s appropriate for these dishonourable partygate elites to retain their elite honours? According to the man himself:

I have to – and I do respect due process – so we’ll all have our personal feelings about who was on [the honours] list. The decision about who was on that list was Boris Johnson’s… that’s the nature of the process.

Rather than digging into this wishy-washy response, Kuenssberg said those five little words that every political interviewee wants to hear:

let’s talk about something else

Despite Kuenssberg’s famous instincts, it seems there’s actually quite a lot to talk about. Firstly, we can’t help but notice that Johnson, the man bestowing the honours, had to resign in disgrace as both PM and an MP. This is the guy who gets to decide who is and is not honourable?

Usually, when you get shit-canned for gross incompetence, you don’t get to retain one of your job’s greatest benefits. To be fair, however, being prime minister isn’t so much a ‘job’ as a ‘hobby’. One that keeps Oxbridge graduates busy for a few years between their various scandals – be they financial, sexual, partygate, or worse.

Secondly, the matter of ‘personal feelings’. While it’s true we all have feelings on the matter, what we don’t all have are seats in government. Are we supposed to believe there’s nothing anyone can do to block this “due process”? If so, where was the due process when these people were partying like it was Covid-1999? Are we to understand the only rules Tories can’t break are the ones which personally benefit them?

Oh, and speaking of due process, would you be surprised to learn that Gove won’t be voting on the Johnson partygate report?

You could argue he has every right not to vote. A more enlightened person, however, would argue he’s a slippery little shit who will say and do anything to get ahead. And the only ‘due processes’ he seems interested in are those in which he’s able to wrangle yet more undue power and influence:

The sick, the bad, and the incompetent

Arguably, Kuenssberg couldn’t have done more than she did to haul Gove’s feet over the coals on partygate. That isn’t to say anyone couldn’t have – a chimp with a hangover could have done a better job. It’s just that in reality, the BBC doesn’t exist to ask the government hard questions. They may hint at a harder question from time to time, but once the minister being questioned has bullshitted their way through, it’s time to – in Kuenssberg’s own words, “talk about something else”.

Featured image via BBC iPlayer – screengrab

Support us and go ad-free

We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support

The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.

The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.

So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.

Support us
  • Show Comments

    1. Michael Gove dodged commenting on partygate gongs,
      and Laura Kuenssberg let him off the hook.
      **
      Come on Gove just because you hide away from voters will it
      save you job next G.E. you must take some responsibility for Boris
      mess as you were in Govt top job under him Gove.
      **
      So, I expect the public voters will punish all Tory M.P. that backed up Boris yesterday 20.6.2023 in H.O. Com debate for lying to us voter, parliament hoping to get better paid job under his rules if he stands next G.E. with
      a new party under him with X Tory M.P. that backed him up for lying.
      **
      Gove do think we voter are stupid outside LONDON Yes, or No?
      in the Lancashire red seats, you Tory M.P. will need to hold onto power
      problems are Tory M.P. of Lancashire area have failed their area for the last 13+years so will lose our voters they all Failed Brexit has well the public voter in the red areas of U.K. will hold all Tory M.P. to account next G.E. by not voting for them again as trust in any Tory M.P. has gone down the toilet now in red wall areas we are sick of Tory C**P, Lies ,Misleading information form Govt Tory Minister like you Gove that should not be in any Govt job now.
      **
      When I did not see you at the debate in H.O. Com on lying Boris govt committee ruling I watched live on T.V. I considered you may have locked yourself again in the toilet to avoid your responsibilities again.

      Report comment

    Leave a Reply

    Join the conversation

    Please read our comment moderation policy here.

Related articles