Stop voting for fucking Tories

[PCPhil]

Feeds into the narrative that, “normal rules shouldn’t apply to us.”
If an 18 year old filmed a video of himself showing off with big talk and not wearing a set belt and then posted on social media……….

[SaintK]

So now Rishi thinks seatbelt laws don't apply to him. Shades of Jack Straw caught speeding: "Do you know who I am?".

In the grand scheme of things I find this petty bullshit quite tiresome regardless of the politician. Likely a momentary lapse. I'm sure he'll accept his £60 conditional offer to stop the hysteria and move on.

It's funny how many MP's have "momentary lapses" when it comes to lawbreaking!
And it's a potential £500 fine not £60

[PCPhil]

Ambushed by video.

[SaintK]

No wonder he's gone into hiding and Sunak deadbatted a couple of questions at PMQ's on Werdnesday
He's always come over as a truly slippery bastard but then when this story first broke it was all "smears"

The Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, agreed to pay a penalty to HMRC as part of a seven-figure settlement over his tax affairs, the Guardian has been told.
The former chancellor, who still attends the cabinet, has been subject to extensive questions in parliament and the media in recent days after it emerged he agreed to pay millions to HMRC in December after a settlement with the tax agency.
Experts estimate the tax due was about £3.7m based on the capital gains tax incurred by the sale of multiple tranches of shares in YouGov worth more than £20m, which led to transfers of money to Zahawi.
It is understood HMRC applied a 30% penalty to the £3.7m, bringing the total due to £4.8m. Combined with interest charges that HMRC also applies to taxes owed, this is believed to have taken the final settlement to more than £5m.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/20 ... millions

[tabascoboy]

No wonder he's gone into hiding and Sunak deadbatted a couple of questions at PMQ's on Werdnesday
He's always come over as a truly slippery bastard but then when this story first broke it was all "smears"

The Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, agreed to pay a penalty to HMRC as part of a seven-figure settlement over his tax affairs, the Guardian has been told.
The former chancellor, who still attends the cabinet, has been subject to extensive questions in parliament and the media in recent days after it emerged he agreed to pay millions to HMRC in December after a settlement with the tax agency.
Experts estimate the tax due was about £3.7m based on the capital gains tax incurred by the sale of multiple tranches of shares in YouGov worth more than £20m, which led to transfers of money to Zahawi.
It is understood HMRC applied a 30% penalty to the £3.7m, bringing the total due to £4.8m. Combined with interest charges that HMRC also applies to taxes owed, this is believed to have taken the final settlement to more than £5m.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/20 ... millions

No doubt this will be spun as an honest mistake and now he's made good, so shut up about it, plebs...politics of envy and all that.

So, this site has put together the most likely scenarios as

3. Failed tax avoidance scheme. Zahawi was fully advised on the structure by a reputable law/accounting firm, and honestly believed it worked. The advisers were idiots, but he couldn’t know that. You might think Zahawi acted immorally, but that’s a value judgment – legally he’s squeaky clean. This feels somewhat unlikely to me, as the structure is so amateur. But it’s possible. Consequence: the tax is due, with interest. Very possibly no penalties. Zahawi should sue his advisers.

4. Non-compliant. Zahawi winged it, took no advice (except perhaps from his father or friends), and blundered into a situation where a pile of tax was legally payable, but he didn’t know that. This is very plausible, and forgivable, when a startup is founded – i.e. YouGov back in 2000. In my view it’s much less plausible once Zahawi started receiving serious sums of money from the structure – perhaps £25m or more. Surely at that point you’d obtain advice? Consequence: tax, plus interest, plus penalties of 10% to 100% (and possibly 200%) – depending on the precise facts

5. Tax evasion. Zahawi knew the YouGov proceeds were taxable, but dishonestly failed to pay or report the arrangements to HMRC. Or he was so reckless about it that it amounts to dishonesty. Consequence: tax, plus interest, plus penalties at the top end of that 10% to 100% range (maybe even 200%). Prosecution for tax evasion and potential jail time.

At the moment it looks like 4 but we should have facts made public to ensure it isn't 5.

[Hal Jordan]

They are relying solely on oil majors. Costs nothing but you outsource the risk and profit.

Could you expand on this a bit? Genuinely interested

Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub JV with bp. bp have invested heavily on the role of hydrogen and are busy engaging in many countries. This allows the host country to sit back and rely on the skills and expertise of the oil major and with almost no financial risk until pre-FEED completed.

Blue or green hydrogen, because if the former then we may as well keep on going with gas, because it's a total climate scam.

[Blackmac]

So now Rishi thinks seatbelt laws don't apply to him. Shades of Jack Straw caught speeding: "Do you know who I am?".

In the grand scheme of things I find this petty bullshit quite tiresome regardless of the politician. Likely a momentary lapse. I'm sure he'll accept his £60 conditional offer to stop the hysteria and move on.

It's funny how many MP's have "momentary lapses" when it comes to lawbreaking!
And it's a potential £500 fine not £60
[/quote

There are a lot of maximum fines and sentences but do you really think they are ever imposed.
The vast majority of seat belt offences are dealt with by conditional offer which I believe might have gone up to £90. Why wouldn't this.

[Slick]

Could you expand on this a bit? Genuinely interested

Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub JV with bp. bp have invested heavily on the role of hydrogen and are busy engaging in many countries. This allows the host country to sit back and rely on the skills and expertise of the oil major and with almost no financial risk until pre-FEED completed.

Blue or green hydrogen, because if the former then we may as well keep on going with gas, because it's a total climate scam.

Apparently Germany have made such big moves towards green hydrogen that have no chance of being supplied that they have fucked it all off and signed a massive deal with Norway for the blue stuff

[shaggy]

Could you expand on this a bit? Genuinely interested

Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub JV with bp. bp have invested heavily on the role of hydrogen and are busy engaging in many countries. This allows the host country to sit back and rely on the skills and expertise of the oil major and with almost no financial risk until pre-FEED completed.

Blue or green hydrogen, because if the former then we may as well keep on going with gas, because it's a total climate scam.

Depends on the location as far as I can work out. Locations with an abundance or potential for renewables will be green, but those without would be blue or a combination. Also depends on the consumers, heavy industry is more likely to be blue as it is needs high availability.

The blue variety is also indelibly linked to carbon capture technology. The oil majors (non US ones anyway) understand the need to move away from being carbon emitters as their sources of borrowing are requiring it too.

As you can see the whole potential of hydrogen requires vast sums of investment and engineering know how, which is why governments are largely leaving this to oil majors. They don’t want the financial risk but can happily play a political game as there is little exposure to losing the next election due to having to continue with the current energy mix if their partners fail.

[Torquemada 1420]

So now Rishi thinks seatbelt laws don't apply to him. Shades of Jack Straw caught speeding: "Do you know who I am?".

In the grand scheme of things I find this petty bullshit quite tiresome regardless of the politician. Likely a momentary lapse. I'm sure he'll accept his £60 conditional offer to stop the hysteria and move on.

But it's not. You are treating the incident in isolation whereas it's part of an overall pattern of contempt where they believe the law does not apply to them. Who TF these days gets in car and does not put a seat belt on? Especially
- in the public eye
- on camera
- and when every modern car bongs at you like a demented Rank artist if you so much as leave your window 2mm ajar

[Blackmac]

So now Rishi thinks seatbelt laws don't apply to him. Shades of Jack Straw caught speeding: "Do you know who I am?".

In the grand scheme of things I find this petty bullshit quite tiresome regardless of the politician. Likely a momentary lapse. I'm sure he'll accept his £60 conditional offer to stop the hysteria and move on.

But it's not. You are treating the incident in isolation whereas it's part of an overall pattern of contempt where they believe the law does not apply to them. Who TF these days gets in car and does not put a seat belt on? Especially
- in the public eye
- on camera
- and when every modern car bongs at you like a demented Rank artist if you so much as leave your window 2mm ajar

I would imagine the guy is photographed daily being driven in cars. I'm sure if it was a pattern of behaviour it would have been noticed before. Plus, as you point out every modern car makes it virtually impossible to drive without a seatbelt so again, hard to imagine anyone makes a habit of it. Can't really stand the prick but this is just noise.

[I like neeps]

The village idiot at GB News has decided to equate with abortion. What a cretinous bunch they really are.

[Blackmac]

The village idiot at GB News has decided to equate with abortion. What a cretinous bunch they really are.

FFS. Someone tell the idiot that the 1970's want their argument back.

[shaggy]

So now Rishi thinks seatbelt laws don't apply to him. Shades of Jack Straw caught speeding: "Do you know who I am?".

In the grand scheme of things I find this petty bullshit quite tiresome regardless of the politician. Likely a momentary lapse. I'm sure he'll accept his £60 conditional offer to stop the hysteria and move on.

But it's not. You are treating the incident in isolation whereas it's part of an overall pattern of contempt where they believe the law does not apply to them. Who TF these days gets in car and does not put a seat belt on? Especially
- in the public eye
- on camera
- and when every modern car bongs at you like a demented Rank artist if you so much as leave your window 2mm ajar

I see drivers without seatbelts every single day. Conflating this with Tory contempt for the public is quite a reach.

[SaintK]

No wonder he's gone into hiding and Sunak deadbatted a couple of questions at PMQ's on Werdnesday
He's always come over as a truly slippery bastard but then when this story first broke it was all "smears"

The Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, agreed to pay a penalty to HMRC as part of a seven-figure settlement over his tax affairs, the Guardian has been told.
The former chancellor, who still attends the cabinet, has been subject to extensive questions in parliament and the media in recent days after it emerged he agreed to pay millions to HMRC in December after a settlement with the tax agency.
Experts estimate the tax due was about £3.7m based on the capital gains tax incurred by the sale of multiple tranches of shares in YouGov worth more than £20m, which led to transfers of money to Zahawi.
It is understood HMRC applied a 30% penalty to the £3.7m, bringing the total due to £4.8m. Combined with interest charges that HMRC also applies to taxes owed, this is believed to have taken the final settlement to more than £5m.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/20 ... millions

Quite a forensic thread on this. Zahawi must have paid his solicitors a fortune for all the threatening letters they ssent out.
Would probably have made the headlines if the government hadn't been imploding at the time.

[Torquemada 1420]

I see drivers without seatbelts every single day. Conflating this with Tory contempt for the public is quite a reach.

I find that hard to believe. It's extremely hard to see into other cars these days even if your weren't paying attention to your own driving other than rubber necking at junctions: which is a bit creepy TBH.

[C69]

No wonder he's gone into hiding and Sunak deadbatted a couple of questions at PMQ's on Werdnesday
He's always come over as a truly slippery bastard but then when this story first broke it was all "smears"

The Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, agreed to pay a penalty to HMRC as part of a seven-figure settlement over his tax affairs, the Guardian has been told.
The former chancellor, who still attends the cabinet, has been subject to extensive questions in parliament and the media in recent days after it emerged he agreed to pay millions to HMRC in December after a settlement with the tax agency.
Experts estimate the tax due was about £3.7m based on the capital gains tax incurred by the sale of multiple tranches of shares in YouGov worth more than £20m, which led to transfers of money to Zahawi.
It is understood HMRC applied a 30% penalty to the £3.7m, bringing the total due to £4.8m. Combined with interest charges that HMRC also applies to taxes owed, this is believed to have taken the final settlement to more than £5m.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/20 ... millions

Quite a forensic thread on this. Zahawi must have paid his solicitors a fortune for all the threatening letters they ssent out.
Would probably have made the headlines if the government hadn't been imploding at the time.

That was an excellent read, many thanks.

[shaggy]

I see drivers without seatbelts every single day. Conflating this with Tory contempt for the public is quite a reach.

I find that hard to believe. It's extremely hard to see into other cars these days even if your weren't paying attention to your own driving other than rubber necking at junctions: which is a bit creepy TBH.

Really? I mean really? You don’t see people not wearing seatbelts? I find that utterly incomprehensible.

You see it every day, especially if you are walking or cycling when it takes nothing to observe driving standards.

Working from home today I saw out of my office window on a cul-de-sac (so a low traffic environment) I saw the following not wearing seatbelts;
- UPS van driver
- 2 x Amazon drivers
- 2 people in a van touting for driveway business (3 times)
- my nextdoor neighbour and his wife

And that is just what I noticed.

Walking the dog this afternoon I saw just the one driver not wearing a seatbelt. He was however doing approximately 40mph in a 20 and he was using his phone too. In fact I did not see a single vehicle doing below the speed limit, and that includes buses and hospital transport.

Failure to follow the highway code is so endemic in our culture that it is a shock to actually see someone driving in conformance with the Highway Code on local domestic streets.

[Torquemada 1420]

I see drivers without seatbelts every single day. Conflating this with Tory contempt for the public is quite a reach.

I find that hard to believe. It's extremely hard to see into other cars these days even if your weren't paying attention to your own driving other than rubber necking at junctions: which is a bit creepy TBH.

Really? I mean really? You don’t see people not wearing seatbelts? I find that utterly incomprehensible.

You see it every day, especially if you are walking or cycling when it takes nothing to observe driving standards.

Failure to follow the highway code is so endemic in our culture that it is a shock to actually see someone driving in conformance with the Highway Code on local domestic streets.

You have a perfectly valid point. I was thinking only as a car user and not being in a city (like London), would not see inside moving cars regularly.

And on your last point, don't get me started! If there were a proper driving test, at least half of the useless c**ts currently on the roads would never be allowed near a shopping trolley, let alone a motorised vehicle.

[Sandstorm]

You moaners should take a trip to the 3rd world - such as Egypt, India or SA - to see what bad driving really looks like!

[yermum]

Before-before Lagos traffic na special, eh
Before-before Lagos traffic na special, eh
Number one special all over the world, eh
Number one special all over the world, eh
You go get Ph.D. for driving for Lagos, eh
You go get M.A. for driving for Lagos, eh
You go get M.Sc. for driving for Lagos, oh

[Dogbert]

Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub JV with bp. bp have invested heavily on the role of hydrogen and are busy engaging in many countries. This allows the host country to sit back and rely on the skills and expertise of the oil major and with almost no financial risk until pre-FEED completed.

Blue or green hydrogen, because if the former then we may as well keep on going with gas, because it's a total climate scam.

Apparently Germany have made such big moves towards green hydrogen that have no chance of being supplied that they have fucked it all off and signed a massive deal with Norway for the blue stuff

So in reality the situation is a bit more complicated

What has been announced is that plans to build a pipeline between Norway and Germany to supply Europe’s largest economy with hydrogen – initially the blue variety made from fossil gas linked to carbon storage and later green H2 made using power from adjacent North Sea offshore wind farms.

The planned hydrogen pipeline should at first carry blue hydrogen from Norwegian gas fields to Germany, but also pass by the platforms of future offshore wind farms in the North Sea where green hydrogen will be produced over the next decade, using the same pipeline.
Developing a hydrogen value chain, is a huge task , not unlike the start of Oil/Gas in the North Sea in the late 70’s

What we are seeing is the UK lagging behind the initiatives in Europe.

What we do see is that Oil Major involved here – Equinor – is state owned , rather than privately owned,.

You do wonder what will happen in the UK , I can’t see much enthusiasm from Harbour Energy to push the Acorn CCS project , and willthey will put the Viking CCS project on the back burner , especially considering the downsizing of the company that has just been announced.

[Slick]

Blue or green hydrogen, because if the former then we may as well keep on going with gas, because it's a total climate scam.

Apparently Germany have made such big moves towards green hydrogen that have no chance of being supplied that they have fucked it all off and signed a massive deal with Norway for the blue stuff

So in reality the situation is a bit more complicated

What has been announced is that plans to build a pipeline between Norway and Germany to supply Europe’s largest economy with hydrogen – initially the blue variety made from fossil gas linked to carbon storage and later green H2 made using power from adjacent North Sea offshore wind farms.

The planned hydrogen pipeline should at first carry blue hydrogen from Norwegian gas fields to Germany, but also pass by the platforms of future offshore wind farms in the North Sea where green hydrogen will be produced over the next decade, using the same pipeline.
Developing a hydrogen value chain, is a huge task , not unlike the start of Oil/Gas in the North Sea in the late 70’s

What we are seeing is the UK lagging behind the initiatives in Europe.

What we do see is that Oil Major involved here – Equinor – is state owned , rather than privately owned,.

You do wonder what will happen in the UK , I can’t see much enthusiasm from Harbour Energy to push the Acorn CCS project , and willthey will put the Viking CCS project on the back burner , especially considering the downsizing of the company that has just been announced.

Thanks, very interested

Funnily enough I heard yesterday that Acorn are not expecting any more funding and are looking to private investment

[tabascoboy]

[SaintK]

You must know you're in big trouble when they send Raab out to defend you!

The deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Zahawi had been “transparent about the fact all the tax has been paid”.

“I don’t know the full details of Nadhim’s tax affairs because they are personal,” he said. “What I do know is that he’s made very clear that he’s paid all of his tax, that he’s got no outstanding tax liabilities or nothing further due, and he’s obviously engaged with HMRC to achieve that.”

Asked if Zahawi should give a statement to the Commons, Raab added: “That’s a matter for him but what I’d emphasise is he has been transparent about the fact that all the tax has been paid and he doesn’t have any tax outstanding.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2 ... e-labour

[Hal Jordan]

Javid's donors/mates in the insurance industry think it's a good idea, and that's all that matters for policymaking.

[tabascoboy]

Nadhim Zahawi claims error with his taxes ‘careless not deliberate’

doesn't quite gel somehow



Remarkable how "careless" our leading politicians ( and not just Tory tbf ) can be. Even if it is "carelessness" and not purely thinking they can get away with it - if they can't manage their own personal finances and lives honestly why TF should we entrust them with the roles in senior government?

[fishfoodie]

The careless bullshit might fly for a guy who does his own taxes for his corner shop; but it doesn't work for a multi-millionaire who is employing someone else to do his taxes, & only ends up owing taxes if they lied to this tax advisor !

[shaggy]

Blue or green hydrogen, because if the former then we may as well keep on going with gas, because it's a total climate scam.

Apparently Germany have made such big moves towards green hydrogen that have no chance of being supplied that they have fucked it all off and signed a massive deal with Norway for the blue stuff

So in reality the situation is a bit more complicated

What has been announced is that plans to build a pipeline between Norway and Germany to supply Europe’s largest economy with hydrogen – initially the blue variety made from fossil gas linked to carbon storage and later green H2 made using power from adjacent North Sea offshore wind farms.

The planned hydrogen pipeline should at first carry blue hydrogen from Norwegian gas fields to Germany, but also pass by the platforms of future offshore wind farms in the North Sea where green hydrogen will be produced over the next decade, using the same pipeline.
Developing a hydrogen value chain, is a huge task , not unlike the start of Oil/Gas in the North Sea in the late 70’s

What we are seeing is the UK lagging behind the initiatives in Europe.

What we do see is that Oil Major involved here – Equinor – is state owned , rather than privately owned,.

You do wonder what will happen in the UK , I can’t see much enthusiasm from Harbour Energy to push the Acorn CCS project , and willthey will put the Viking CCS project on the back burner , especially considering the downsizing of the company that has just been announced.

I am not sure the UK is lagging Europe on diversifying their energy sources, but they are relying on a less coordinated strategy through use of several companies as opposed to one main supplier, Equinor.

[dpedin]

The careless bullshit might fly for a guy who does his own taxes for his corner shop; but it doesn't work for a multi-millionaire who is employing someone else to do his taxes, & only ends up owing taxes if they lied to this tax advisor !

Especially when he employed lawyers to threaten journalists who were asking questions about his tax affairs. I believe his lawyers were chastised by their professional body for threatening the journalist to not disclose the contents of their letters when in fact they had no right to do so? Hardly a careless error when he has tax and legal experts working for him and threatening journalists with legal action, etc. He is an entitled twat who has been deliberately avoiding paying UK tax hence the 30% HMRC surcharge, and particularly when negotiating with HMRC when he was their actual boss as Chancellor. He has to go!

Now what about Boris, the £800k undisclosed loan and the appointment of the BBC Chairman who helped facilitate the loan guarantee? Smelly or what?

[tabascoboy]

And yet, people tirelessly moan about left wing bias and lack of balance on the BBC, the fat slugs sister and 2 Tories and...that's it

[Biffer]

When they’re discussing conflict of interest for Boris Johnson, the journo the invite on is his sister. They’re taking the piss.

[tabascoboy]

So, either the Conservative Party Chairman genuinely didn't know anything about it; or transparency is not a requirement of Government and it's up to the media to uncover what should be in the public domain ( a media increasingly dominated by Tory lickspittles...). Which is, or perhaps both are, true...

Just how many conflict of interest stories are we up to now with this lot? I've lost count...



and

[Hal Jordan]

One bad apple latest, Met Chief Inspector found dead on the day he was to have been charged over child porn, with two retired officers up before the beak.

[C T]

The careless bullshit might fly for a guy who does his own taxes for his corner shop; but it doesn't work for a multi-millionaire who is employing someone else to do his taxes, & only ends up owing taxes if they lied to this tax advisor !

Especially when he employed lawyers to threaten journalists who were asking questions about his tax affairs. I believe his lawyers were chastised by their professional body for threatening the journalist to not disclose the contents of their letters when in fact they had no right to do so? Hardly a careless error when he has tax and legal experts working for him and threatening journalists with legal action, etc. He is an entitled twat who has been deliberately avoiding paying UK tax hence the 30% HMRC surcharge, and particularly when negotiating with HMRC when he was their actual boss as Chancellor. He has to go!

Now what about Boris, the £800k undisclosed loan and the appointment of the BBC Chairman who helped facilitate the loan guarantee? Smelly or what?

It is really quite amazing how these careless, genuine errors never seem to result in more tax being paid.

[tabascoboy]

The careless bullshit might fly for a guy who does his own taxes for his corner shop; but it doesn't work for a multi-millionaire who is employing someone else to do his taxes, & only ends up owing taxes if they lied to this tax advisor !

Especially when he employed lawyers to threaten journalists who were asking questions about his tax affairs. I believe his lawyers were chastised by their professional body for threatening the journalist to not disclose the contents of their letters when in fact they had no right to do so? Hardly a careless error when he has tax and legal experts working for him and threatening journalists with legal action, etc. He is an entitled twat who has been deliberately avoiding paying UK tax hence the 30% HMRC surcharge, and particularly when negotiating with HMRC when he was their actual boss as Chancellor. He has to go!

Now what about Boris, the £800k undisclosed loan and the appointment of the BBC Chairman who helped facilitate the loan guarantee? Smelly or what?

It is really quite amazing how these careless, genuine errors never seem to result in more tax being paid.

Reminds me I need to check out my bank and building society accounts, you never know when due to an honest mistake, £27m has been "mysteriously" credited to one of your accounts

[fishfoodie]

The careless bullshit might fly for a guy who does his own taxes for his corner shop; but it doesn't work for a multi-millionaire who is employing someone else to do his taxes, & only ends up owing taxes if they lied to this tax advisor !

Especially when he employed lawyers to threaten journalists who were asking questions about his tax affairs. I believe his lawyers were chastised by their professional body for threatening the journalist to not disclose the contents of their letters when in fact they had no right to do so? Hardly a careless error when he has tax and legal experts working for him and threatening journalists with legal action, etc. He is an entitled twat who has been deliberately avoiding paying UK tax hence the 30% HMRC surcharge, and particularly when negotiating with HMRC when he was their actual boss as Chancellor. He has to go!

Now what about Boris, the £800k undisclosed loan and the appointment of the BBC Chairman who helped facilitate the loan guarantee? Smelly or what?

It is really quite amazing how these careless, genuine errors never seem to result in more tax being paid.

Don't worry; I'm sure he'll now be sueing his tax experts for the damage they have caused to his reputation, by conveniently saving him millions of pounds in taxes, on an offshore structure they had no hand, act or part in setting up

[fishfoodie]

So would I be right in saying that the Bumblecunt has spent more time in Kiev, since he was completely rejected by his Party; than he has in the HoC, representing his constituents ?

Was he asking for asylum, rather than face questioning about Partygate etc ?

[Rhubarb & Custard]

So, either the Conservative Party Chairman genuinely didn't know anything about it; or transparency is not a requirement of Government and it's up to the media to uncover what should be in the public domain ( a media increasingly dominated by Tory lickspittles...). Which is, or perhaps both are, true...

'tis a wondrous thing, that over and over they they don't avail themselves of details so when asked they can say 'I've never seen anything to that effect' or whatever. and this repeated desire to intentionally not know about and understand a situation doesn't dissuade them from wanting to govern

[tabascoboy]

So, either the Conservative Party Chairman genuinely didn't know anything about it; or transparency is not a requirement of Government and it's up to the media to uncover what should be in the public domain ( a media increasingly dominated by Tory lickspittles...). Which is, or perhaps both are, true...

'tis a wondrous thing, that over and over they they don't avail themselves of details so when asked they can say 'I've never seen anything to that effect' or whatever. and this repeated desire to intentionally not know about and understand a situation doesn't dissuade them from wanting to govern

It's the Arsène Wenger school of Government, "I didn't see it"