UK General Discussion:The Rt. Hon Alex Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, Populist Hero

[MABA 2020]

At risk of going to the Tower am I the only one who thought the recent announcement from the Queen was rather a sign of where they expect things to be going over the next year or two...

It has been widely reported in the past but I can't help but wonder if it was done to avoid the rather unseemly chance of it being done right at the last minute.

Tbh, when you’re her age, just about anything can kill you. Probably better to issue such a proclamation sooner rather than later, but I don’t think it’s really a sign of anything imminent regarding her health.

I hope she beat Louis XV record before she go would be fitting end to a reigns off topic ish when Charles becomes between the death to coronations that have any effect on the pm approvals ratings at all?

Well she's got 70 years under her belt as of today, just needs to make it to summer 2024 to beat Louis

[CumbrianLefty]

At risk of going to the Tower am I the only one who thought the recent announcement from the Queen was rather a sign of where they expect things to be going over the next year or two...

It has been widely reported in the past but I can't help but wonder if it was done to avoid the rather unseemly chance of it being done right at the last minute.

Tbh, when you’re her age, just about anything can kill you. Probably better to issue such a proclamation sooner rather than later, but I don’t think it’s really a sign of anything imminent regarding her health.

I hope she beat Louis XV record before she go would be fitting end to a reigns off topic ish when Charles becomes between the death to coronations that have any effect on the pm approvals ratings at all?

Well she's got 70 years under her belt as of today, just needs to make it to summer 2024 to beat Louis

She's 4th in the "official" table, but will be second behind only the Sun King come the summer.

(though of course you still have the more ambiguous claims such as Sobhuza and Pepi II)

[Torrain]

So, looks like the new No.10 Director go Communications, Guto Harri, spent time lobbying for Huawei.

Can’t imagine that’ll go down too well with the backbenchers (and doesn’t make me feel great either), although I doubt it’ll be a dealbreaker given this administration.

[Torrain]

Keir Starmer mobbed in street by protesters as police escort Labour leader to safety near Parliament

Sir Keir Starmer has been mobbed by dozens of protesters shouting "traitor" at him in Westminster and had to be escorted through the crowd by police officers.

In video footage posted on social media, Sir Keir was seen walking near to Parliament surrounded by police officers as he was confronted by a group, some of whom repeated a Savile slur first used by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Parliament.

The Labour leader was rushed into the back of a police vehicle and driven away from the scene.

Reports from Mirror journalists suggests at least one of the 'protesters' was brandishing a noose.

The only thing I'd say on the subject, is that this happened on the very same day Anna Firth was sworn in to replace Sir David Amess. What our leaders say matter, and regardless of their positions they have a responsibility not to peddle conspiracies, given our recent history.

[Blair]

Vile.

I was angry because we knew this would happen and it is only months since David Amiss.

Equally it’s clear Johnson does not care. The man has no moral core.

He will throw anyone under the bus if it lets him stay in power.But everyone knows this in Westminster and the Tories know the only way to end it.

[MaxQue]

Also equally, it is the fault of the quite incompetent Speaker Hoyle, who should have required Johnson to withdraw what he said.

[Cassius]

Also equally, it is the fault of the quite incompetent Speaker Hoyle, who should have required Johnson to withdraw what he said.

Whilst what Johnson said would have been sailing dangerously close to slander in a non-parliamentary context, it wasn’t (as far as I’m aware) unparliamentary language, so Hoyle couldn’t really ask him to withdraw. I also very much doubt that Hoyle asking him to do so would have made a blind bit of difference to these protesters.

[Torrain]

This statement feels like a cop-out. "Harrassment is bad", but no apology, no retraction, even amidst criticism from an increasing number of his own MPs. So far this one comment has cost him his policy chief, several MPs' support, and has now been linked to a small mob.

What on earth is it going to take to get him to retract his remarks? This whole situation gets more Trumpian by the day.

https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1490773801096953862

[GoTfan]

I've got a nasty feeling that Johnson and his advisors knew this would happen.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

"It takes an idiot to act like a fool".
Boris knows how the game is played. It's unlikely he'll ever face any trouble for his remarks, because he knows the rules of the game and can play them for his optimal benefit.

[beesley]

https://twitter.com/PeterStefanovi2/status/1490948395061559296?t=WAhX6c_a4lUURm-...

If you want to see a compilation of those who have publicly supported Johnson's remarks then look here - but worth noting every Minister who stands by the Prime Minister and maintains their office is supporting his actions.

[afleitch]

It's pretty much the intent of the Conservatives. I don't think they were ready to go full mask off until 2024, at the point at which every TV appearance is either cancelled, channeled through the new right wing rolling news or reduced to a series of memes.

We'll get much much more statements like these in the Commons because archaic parliamentary procedure punishes calling it out more than saying it.

[Conservatopia]

Apparently this whole non-apology thing is a strategy.  The thinking is that the more people hear Starmer and Savile in the same sentence the more it will damage Starmer's reputation.

Now this strategy might be effective but if true it's incredibly low.

[Torrain]

Whatever the motivation - it’s just an awful way to operate. Personally, it’s created the impression that Johnson is a man who has never been told no, never forced to back down, and so has no emotional response more mature than throwing his toys out of the pram.

*

In other Westminster news, there’s apparently going to be a small reshuffle today. The Times expects the following:

• Mark Spencer —> Leader of Commons
• Rees-Mogg —> Retains Cabinet role, possibly minister for Brexit opportunities
• Adams, Pincher & Heaton-Harris as possible candidate for Chief Whip

[Middle-aged Europe]

Whatever the motivation - it’s just an awful way to operate. Personally, it’s created the impression that Johnson is a man who has never been told no, never forced to back down, and so has no emotional response more mature than throwing his toys out of the pram.

Sounds like a certain former U.S. president.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

"It takes an idiot to act like a fool".
Boris knows how the game is played. It's unlikely he'll ever face any trouble for his remarks, because he knows the rules of the game and can play them for his optimal benefit.

His closest advisor - a women who he depended on more than Harold Wilson did Marcia Falkender! - has resigned because of it and his already dangerously position within the parliamentary party has become weaker as a result of it. You don't have to issue commentary on things you do not understand.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Apparently this whole non-apology thing is a strategy.  The thinking is that the more people hear Starmer and Savile in the same sentence the more it will damage Starmer's reputation.

Now this strategy might be effective but if true it's incredibly low.

If true it is also extremely stupid as the general public now believe (correctly) that Johnson is a pathological liar and that any claim he makes should be assumed to be a lie unless proven otherwise.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

As an aside, Boris Johnson really is the very last person who should be blasé about abusing parliamentary privilege. There are all sorts of unpleasant rumours about him and his personal life and actions over the years floating around that the wider public has never heard a whiff of.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

"It takes an idiot to act like a fool".
Boris knows how the game is played. It's unlikely he'll ever face any trouble for his remarks, because he knows the rules of the game and can play them for his optimal benefit.

His closest advisor - a women who he depended on more than Harold Wilson did Marcia Falkender! - has resigned because of it and his already dangerously position within the parliamentary party has become weaker as a result of it. You don't have to issue commentary on things you do not understand.

I was too imprecise. I meant legal trouble, as well as getting in trouble with the Speaker. The resignations do show the trouble this saga poses to him, but those troubles are not of legal nature.
There are cases of parliamentary privilege being abused (see: QLD Labor leading up to 2012). I don't know enough to deduce how the electorate responds to this generally.

[GoTfan]

John McDonnell said it in a GQ interview with Alastair Campbell in 2019: Johnson has to be careful about the forces that he's unleashing. We saw the results of what a far-right mob fuelled by conspiracy theories could do on January 6 last year.

[CumbrianLefty]

Apparently this whole non-apology thing is a strategy.  The thinking is that the more people hear Starmer and Savile in the same sentence the more it will damage Starmer's reputation.

Now this strategy might be effective but if true it's incredibly low.

Polls show that Starmer's ratings have improved in the last week.

If anything what happened yesterday might only augment that.

[Torrain]

Appointing Mark Spencer as Leader of the House, especially given that he’s still under investigation for the potentially sectarian firing of Nus Ghani seems a tad crass.

The Leader of the House has responsibilities for maintaining the standards of MPs behaviour. When Spencer’s own behaviour is in question, it seems suspect to give him oversight in such a role (and open Johnson up to further embarrassment if he has to dismiss Spencer for this behaviour down the line).

[Conservatopia]

Apparently this whole non-apology thing is a strategy.  The thinking is that the more people hear Starmer and Savile in the same sentence the more it will damage Starmer's reputation.

Now this strategy might be effective but if true it's incredibly low.

Polls show that Starmer's ratings have improved in the last week.

If anything what happened yesterday might only augment that.

Fwiw when polled last week I answered Starmer Approve, Boris Disapprove.  Undecided on GE VI.

I think Starmer has handled the Savile allegations against him with good grace.

Appointing Mark Spencer as Leader of the House, especially given that he’s still under investigation for the potentially sectarian firing of Nus Ghani seems a tad crass.

The Leader of the House has responsibilities for maintaining the standards of MPs behaviour. When Spencer’s own behaviour is in question, it seems suspect to give him oversight in such a role (and open Johnson up to further embarrassment if he has to dismiss Spencer for this behaviour down the line).

The PM doesn't have the balls to sack anyone.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Spencer was a complete disaster as Chief Whip and was implicated in a bunch of the fiascos that have laid the Johnson government low. Quite the sign of weakness that he's not actually been sacked.

[Torrain]

The PM doesn't have the balls to sack anyone.

I should have seen that coming ever since he let Priti Patel carry on after the bullying report, and... well, every other scandal in the Home Office since 2019.