Covid Fines

It's interesting to see the political stampede to right the terrible wrongs done to the subpostmasters while little is done to deal with the excessive Covid fines or the tainted blood scandal or several other compensation issues. Could it be that such cases serve no political partisan value and thus attract little interest from MPs?

MayBee70

Just because the people in power broke the law doesn’t make it right that other people did, too. They knew how much the fines were and, at the time no one knew that the majority of people would adhere to the rules so there needed to be a deterrent.

I didn't argue that lawbreaking by the Buffoon and his friends made it right. The point is that fines for offences should be on a tariff. Some magistrates clearly went bananas in fining people £1,000s when the Buffoon in No. 10 paid £50 and many others in high places who held or attended parties paid nothing. It stinks.

I was in such a muddle I even got your name wrong, winterwhite 😳

I do apologise.

I think I created the muddle by telescoping what I was trying to say. I meant that I supported the case for total amnesty rather than the case, that many were advancing, of reducing all fines to £50.
It was clear that the OP was stressing the unfairness and I quite agree.

MaizieD

Callistemon21

MaizieD

winterwhite

Agree with OP re total amnesty now.
Prob easier anyway than trying to reclaim all the £50s - and what fund would the money go into? The public have been more sinned against than sinning and have borne enough.

The whole point of this thread is that 'ordinary' people were fined £1,000s (not £50) while the ministers and civil servants involved with the numerous Whitehall/Westminster parties were fined only £50 (or nothing at all)

Yes, that was the point 🙂

Whitehall/Westminster parties were fined only £50 (or nothing at all) for repeat offences and even laughing at the gullible public about it, supposedly behind our backs!

Sorry if I 've misunderstood, but silverlinings seemed to be thinking, by saying that it would be hard to reclaim the £50s, that that was all that 'ordinary' folks were paying.

Have I got myself in a muddle? 🤔

No, you interpreted what I said correctly!

Poor people fined thousands of £, rich politicians, those who made the rules and who were repeat offenders charged £50 or let off.

Or am I getting myself in a muddle now?

Only just seen this thread so only able to comment now.
The fines should be refunded, bar £50.
It’s ridiculous that fines are still being handed out now.
I want to believe our justice system treats everyone alike under the law but………

Callistemon21

MaizieD

winterwhite

Agree with OP re total amnesty now.
Prob easier anyway than trying to reclaim all the £50s - and what fund would the money go into? The public have been more sinned against than sinning and have borne enough.

The whole point of this thread is that 'ordinary' people were fined £1,000s (not £50) while the ministers and civil servants involved with the numerous Whitehall/Westminster parties were fined only £50 (or nothing at all)

Yes, that was the point 🙂

Whitehall/Westminster parties were fined only £50 (or nothing at all) for repeat offences and even laughing at the gullible public about it, supposedly behind our backs!

Sorry if I 've misunderstood, but silverlinings seemed to be thinking, by saying that it would be hard to reclaim the £50s, that that was all that 'ordinary' folks were paying.

Have I got myself in a muddle? 🤔

MaizieD

winterwhite

Agree with OP re total amnesty now.
Prob easier anyway than trying to reclaim all the £50s - and what fund would the money go into? The public have been more sinned against than sinning and have borne enough.

The whole point of this thread is that 'ordinary' people were fined £1,000s (not £50) while the ministers and civil servants involved with the numerous Whitehall/Westminster parties were fined only £50 (or nothing at all)

Yes, that was the point 🙂

Whitehall/Westminster parties were fined only £50 (or nothing at all) for repeat offences and even laughing at the gullible public about it, supposedly behind our backs!

Fines just mean “illegal if you’re poor”. The rich can get away with anything - assume they even get fined properly in the first place

winterwhite

Agree with OP re total amnesty now.
Prob easier anyway than trying to reclaim all the £50s - and what fund would the money go into? The public have been more sinned against than sinning and have borne enough.

The whole point of this thread is that 'ordinary' people were fined £1,000s (not £50) while the ministers and civil servants involved with the numerous Whitehall/Westminster parties were fined only £50 (or nothing at all)

All because this was a while ago, we shouldn't let it go

I agree

There should be a complete amnesty, all fines already paid refunded, minus £50. I too would like to see a test case because I really need to know why a student organising a party is fined £10,000 while the wife of the PM organises a party and is not fined at all, but some attendees were fined £50? What about her decorator, did she get fined? Or was she deemed to be a key worker? All because this was a while ago, we shouldn't let it go.

No Nanna8 there should be no fines it’s horrible I remember two women getting fined for having a coffee together in a park while half the Tories were having a knees up
Disgusting corruption
I agree all refunded bar £50

Agree with OP re total amnesty now.
Prob easier anyway than trying to reclaim all the £50s - and what fund would the money go into? The public have been more sinned against than sinning and have borne enough.

Ailsa43

OldFrill

Absolutely

Toriano's fines have been paid now thanks to the generosity of donations

Yes, people are very kind but it's the principle of it that is so wrong. It is so manifestly unfair.

I'd rather have contributed towards legal fees to fight these cases.

£50 to people like Johnson and Sunak is a drop in the ocean. They probably spend more than that on lunchtime drinks. It's an insult to us all and those who were fined thousands should get their money back as that amount can be life changing for some.

Sorry Oldfrill I quoted you instead of the OP

OldFrill

Absolutely

Toriano's fines have been paid now thanks to the generosity of donations

Just because the people in power broke the law doesn’t make it right that other people did, too. They knew how much the fines were and, at the time no one knew that the majority of people would adhere to the rules so there needed to be a deterrent.

With only 12 posts this thread seems to show most GNs don't care about the excessive fines meted out to ordinary people or entirely agree with them.

What happened to the ABBA party? Was it ever investigated?

it really isn't fair at all.

It is more than unusual, it is biased and could be accused of being corrupt.

Yes. Those students were fined £10,000 for hosting a party. Downing Street seemed a permanent party base yet wealthy Sunak and Johnson fined £50. It’s cruel and unusual

I think it's time to refund all fines less £50. The discrepancy between those meted out to ordinary people and those such as the Buffoon and his cronies is disgraceful. It's who you know that counts!