Partygate: The True Story

'Partygate' is a rather weakly comic representation of the events that brought down Boris Johnson; but also, quite literally, a deadly serious one. Right from the start it gets to one key point, when a caller to a radio-phone in offers a defence of the then Prime Minister, accused of hosting "parties" during the COVID-19 lockdowns. For sure, all social gatherings were banned, and if the makers of the laws don't follow them, how can anyone else be expected to. But if people working long hours gathered briefly to wish each other happy birthday, or had a quick drink in the garden after work, was that really so terrible? Even if wrong, you could understand how it had happened. Only, of course, it didn't happen like that. The Downing Street staff, from the top man downwards, acted with complete and reckless disregard for the law they were imposing on other people. Johnson has continued to insist that nothing occured you could really call a party; but that man is a serial liar. 'Partygate' suggests that the reason it all happened lies in the insufferable arrogance of a ruling class who take it for granted that no-one actually gets to tell them what to do, even themselves! It may still not be the worst thing that a British government has ever done; but the story speaks volumes of the contempt of our governors for the governed.

Having lived through the pandemic, this programme was absolutely fascinating but at the same time pretty difficult to watch - it really hit home hard, as with the majority of us all, the lockdowns and restrictions put in place affected us all.

This depiction of the events that happened at No.10 really dramatises the complete flagrant disregard of rules, and laws our complete inept government put in place, that they clearly felt they were not subject to.

It is a total insult that whilst they were clearly having a jolly good time on cheese and wine, hard working people who simply wanted to see their loved ones, weren't able to, and if they did they incurred a ludicrous and disproportionate fine for breaking these rules....and Boris & crew, who were found guilty paid a measly £50 for the same breaches.

I'm not a politically driven person at all, but this has utterly infuriated me, and I feel downright upset how we have all been taken for mugs.

I didn't expect this watch to be so difficult or emotional, so toy may find the same, so be aware.

Back to the COVID outbreak, and Boris Johnson's government had many tough decisions to make, the country was put into lockdown, people couldn't see loved ones or dying relatives, all whilst no.10 partied.

Credit to Channel four for making this drama documentary, and for using Sue Gray's comprehensive report for its content.

It's well acted, although were they all such a privileged bunch of posh boys and girls? I hope they played the actual people with a degree of tongue in cheek. Clever that they don't focus on Cullshaw too much.

The interviews with ordinary members of the public have a real sobering effect, they really do hammer home what was actually happening in the real world outside of The Westminster bubble.

I wonder how much of this will actually influence the next General Election, it will be a while before the public trust the party again.

8/10.

Wine time Friday, wtf indeed.

Partygate:The True Story 2023.

We were all taken for fools, and this highlights how the nation as a whole was shafted and lied to by the Tory Government.

Its a painful watch and it should get you pretty angry whether you agree with Covid or not. The people who made the decisions which effected each and everyone of us. We had Christmas away from families, leaving relatives to die and grieve alone. Whilst they did their own thing and partied hard.....and made vast amounts of money at our expense.

If there was any justice in this world, they would unlock their mobiles phones and be prosecuted for withholding evidence. Johnson and Sunak even got minimal £50 fines for attending gatherings when members of the public were fined £1000s.

What a delight it would be if ITV, BBC etc all broke with tradition of protecting the status quo all screened this programme simultaneously on Christmas day 2023.

Top marks for its importance but its not that great TV to be fair so its a 5/10 Don't forget.... this shameful part of our history.

Prior to watching this docudrama I was a staunch supporter of Boris. And defended the parties as work place gatherings as we hear the lady doing near to the beginning. I felt Boris had been hounded out of office unfairly. Watching this dramatisation has sowed the seed of doubt in my mind. If the parties were on the scale depicted in the drama nobody including the prime minister could possibly justify them as small work place gatherings. Perhaps I have been duped by very left wing film makers? Although the film does cite the Sue Gray report throughout to support the account it gives. The acting was appalling though.