Is Priti Patel Completely Insane?

[diddlydo]

If I'm talking to my neighbours with their grandchildren and parents (group of 6) with me standing in the road behind their closed front gate and we're far more than 2 metres apart, does that equate to her "mingling"? If so, she's not fit to be in office.

[Ellipsis]

The point the interviewer is making is that the word "mingling" is in the rules, but its definition is not entirely clear. So the interviewer concocted a scenario and Priti Patel agreed that the scenario would be "mingling" i.e. against the rules. Another classic case of using fuzzy words and creating confusion where none needed to exist.

[Peter Pedant]

the torture continues
as Priti said off camera - even during the great british raj we found some of their dogs to be brighter than their owners

question in Parliament as if really they dont have a country to run ! - MP = col Madd for it is he: you know it is six
Minister - yes indeed we have made it most clear that six
MP - yeah foo ! what about five a side footie den?
Minister really is this serious?
yes many thanks - can I clarify - five a side football is quite safe - you will notice there are ten - if the five players with the ball keep to their own half and dont pass the barl....

speaker - question 625 withdrawn. The member for little snoozing on zoom......

[Peter Pedant]

why isnt the question and answer session in Parliament
called
questions from a graveyard ?

[New Judge]

//....that's unlikely to happen because a fine under these regulations cannot be appealed, the only recourse is to refuse to pay, and likely end up with a criminal record and an even bigger fine (so few would dare).//

We need to take care with the terminology, mush. Only a court can impose a fine (for any offence). "Authorised Persons" can offer fixed penalties which the accused can accept to discharge the offence without court action. If he disagrees with the basis on which the fixed penalty is offered he can decline to pay. Then he will be prosecuted and if he pleads Not Guilty the burden falls to the prosecution to prove the offence to the criminal standard ("beyond reasonable doubt"). Only if he is convicted can a fine be imposed.

This is no different to any other offence where a Fixed Penalty may be offered (for example, speeding). The driver has no obligation to accept the fixed penalty. He cannot "appeal" it as such - he either accepts it or doesn't. But he can decline the offer (or simply ignore it) and see the matter dealt with by a court.

[Peter Pedant]

thx NJ
I thought he had to "accept " and then appeal - thro the usual channels pouring lots and lots of moolah into lawyers pockets