John Ashworth Tape

[Deskdiary]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/10/corbyn-criticism-was-banter-says-jonathan-ashworth

Is this likely to be "banter", or given it was a secret recording is it more likely that these are his true feelings?

Either way it's pretty bloody embarrassing.

[ludwig]

It's obviously not banter.

//Ouch! I wonder who recorded it? //

I think it must have been his so-called friend, who is a Tory party activist, and with whom he thought he was having a private conversation. Irrespective of politics, what an complete **** that person must be eh?

[naomi24]

If he's a 'friend' - yes, he is a compete ****.

[ToraToraTora]

ludders the gloves are off me old china!

[douglas9401]

Maybe Andrew Neil will ask Mr Johnson what he thinks of such tricks when interviewing the pm.

[emmie]

no such thing as friends in politics

[drmorgans]

Particularly if they were senior figures in an opposition party.

[andy-hughes]

Mr Ashworth was naïve enough to find himself trapped dissing his boss, and then made a seriously unconvincing job of trying to pretend he didn't mean it - only slightly less unconvincing that JC saying that Mr Ashworth has his support.