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

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So, weird observation. The Cabinet are out in force, defending Johnson to the hilt. Even quiet, low-key members like Alister Jack and Therese Coffey. Raab and Rees-Mogg have done prime time interviews on TV, and Dorries is doing exactly what you’d expect on Twitter.

But Priti Patel has been absolutely silent all day. Wonder whether she’s extracting some concession from Johnson, or is just keeping her powder dry.

Odds are we’ll get a statement of support shortly, but still - odd that the rest of the cabinet had a statement out by 11am, and she’s still laying low.

A unity ticket with Hunt?

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https://twitter.com/johnestevens/status/1533781205224771585?s=20&t=7siGtk_gN...

There are also about 40 more Tory MPs now.

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https://twitter.com/CatNeilan/status/1533838759254450183?s=20&t=JjeXmtyqLJNw...

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It would be amusing if the vote in favour of Johnson was less than the number of those who have publicly backed him. IIRC this wasn't that far away from happening in 2018 with May.

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Honestly, assuming things go badly for his successor, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he resurfaces after the next GE for a comeback special.

Some variation on 'doing a Kevin Rudd' is not impossible, no...

In each of those cases people eventually realised that they were c**ts after having been popular for a long time (including with people who wouldn't normally like their respective parties).

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https://twitter.com/nicholaswatt/status/1533889858615255041?s=20&t=xLegb-N6s...

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Non declarers broke about two to one against Johnson.

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Johnson has said eff all so far. He's not known to be backward at coming forward, so is this significant?

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Actually, has Johnson said anything yet?

Bear me to it.

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Johnson has been rumoured for a while to want to get out for health and financial reasons. Could he use this as an excuse?

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https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1533909268860215298?s=20&t=6m_Ni7...

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Boris on now. Bravado and general crap, probably not helping himself.

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https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1533909268860215298

This somehow makes sense- the 12 month wait basically means that resignations are the only way you can try and remove the PM. It’s why Theresa May saw a number in the last 7 months of her terms- people will suddenly find things to resign over.

I'm just curious why these government resignations aren't expected 'til tomorrow. You'd think that it'd make more sense to resign immediately & make the morning shows in order to put even more pressure on BoJo than has already been applied.

David Davis resigned at some ridiculous time (well after midnight) over the May deal.

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Another VONC........to be tabled by Ed Davey in the Commons.

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That said: BoJo surviving is a forgone conclusion

Welp, that settles it: RIP BoJo.

This idea that I’m always wrong is silliness. Almost every call I’ve made on here that doesn’t involve Georgia or Nevada has been accurate

Anyway. It always confused by how someone could win a vote like that and it being declared that it has “mortally wounded” them. The guy won. That’s it….

Because 41% of your own parliamentary party blatantly against you isn't a good look.

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Imagine being in such a bubble that you think the Rwanda disgrace was a ‘success’ in the court of public opinion. The delusion is strong with this one.

Even more striking when you consider how well anti-migrant stuff *usually* polls.

Although it’s worth noting that public attitudes to immigration have actually got a lot more positive in recent years.

Probably one of the consequences of Brexit polarisation. Before then polling would generally show about 80% saying that there was too much immigration. Now it's more like 40-50%.

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They maybe voted Labour when they were young in the 1960s/70s, or perhaps just once in 1997.

(some remarkably right wing people did so then, as was also anecdotally the case in 1945)

My paternal grandfather (died in 2005) voted Labour in 1945 and subsequently said "never again", although he was never a particularly right-wing Tory (had reservations about Thatcher, including her handling of the Falklands). Legend has it that he was a radical leftie in the 1930s, however.

1997 saw Labour get the endorsements of some celebrities with generally unpleasant views - John McCririck (the now deceased horse racing bloke) and Michael Caine come to mind.

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I actually know disappointingly little about the English side of my family’s politics, despite them coming from one of the 20th century’s most politically infamous towns (no points for guessing which based on the county mentioned above!).

Very much a place to stress the links to one of the greatest cricketers to have ever lived - S.F. Barnes - rather than its unique and special place in political history.

So great that he got into Richie Benaud's all-time XI.

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Raab has apparently pulled out of his usual thing of hacking for BJ on the morning television programmes. Hmm.

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Peston suggesting that Sunak resigning isn't beyond the realm of possibility.

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In Tory grandee news, former leader Michael Howard has called for Johnson to resign and for cabinet members to threaten to quit to try and speed it up. 

Not the biggest voice in the party, but when combined with William Hague, who went public with his criticisms earlier in the month, it seems like there’s definitely some movement from silence to open resistance from the old leaders. Both are in the Lords, so will be interesting to see if this produces any noise there.

It's possible that every living former leader wants him to go. Aside from Howard and Hague, Major almost certainly would want to see the back of him, IDS possibly voted against him in the confidence vote, May certainly did and Cameron despises him for going against him in the EU referendum.

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Whelp, both by-elections were thumping losses for the Tories. Lets see how BoJo convinces the backbenchers to save his job this time.

Well, he's not due to face another VONC until next summer. I know that can be changed, but it needs to be done at the right time and way - some MPs maybe wish they had delayed their letters now.

There's a possibility that the 54 was reached due to Johnson allies putting letters in as a way of having the vote at a somewhat better time. A risk, yes, but a risk that has apparently paid off for now. And he likes risks.

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He's trolling the idiots who are too inept (i.e. the parliamentary Tory Party and the cabinet especially) to overthrow him.

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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-mortgages-parents-children-b2113882.html?


Boris Johnson is trying to speed-run getting 0% of the youth vote, seriously a 50 year mortage what the actual hell is that.

Every aspect, side and proposal of the housing 'debate' is stupid.

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It would be so funny if Chris Pincher is the downfall of Boris Johnson. Which is now more possible given the latest revelation.