Forum Topic

Boris should go now.

The most disgraced and disgraceful PM of my lifetime.

Lucille Grant ● 1541d56 Comments

Returning to the news reports from Sutton Coldfield on Channel 4 News, one lady from the local Conservative Party was quoted as saying the thing they are really worried about is that the anger has turned to derision. 

Martine Guy ● 1539d

Ned Kelly the convicted police murderer? There is something in your analogy - if Johnson and his chums shot dead 3 policemen, there would still be a few of his misguided supporters saying he should be given another chance.This happens regularly with victims of fraud - they are convinced the person who conned them has been falsely accused, should be forgiven or made a mistake and should be given another chance. Victims of some "romance frauds" continue to send more money, even when it has been proven to them beyond any reasonable doubt that they have been had.Johnson's next career perhaps?

Michael Winstanley ● 1539d

If we had wanted Ned Kelly, we had Lord Buckethead.

David Ainsworth ● 1539d

whinging Poms - leave him alone, he has a bit of Ned Kelly in him. No one is perfect

Patrick Barrs ● 1539d

Just replacing the leader is plastering over the cracks.We know now that papers sat on this story and have piled in because one paper broke the story. If papers knew about it so did the BBC.Of course he must go but lessons need to be learnt and far wider questions need to be answered.

Ed Robinson ● 1539d

And we do not know who could succeed Boris because he withdrew the whip of 20 very capable MPs

Ivonne Holliday ● 1539d

This thread is veering off its track. There is a very simple fact to be addressed: Britain is currently run by a congenital liar at the head of a team of second- and third-raters. They are so low grade that no one can figure out who could credibly succeed him. Johnson's regime has no sense that there is a public out there with higher standards than the government's own. The public has been rendered wise to that reality, as have many of his own supporters. That is why Johnson's position is in such peril.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1539d

Boris is the target of a sustained slow leaking attack. Just as the democrats never accepted Trump so remainers have never accepted Boris. So now we get the planned leaking of meetings way after the event. All designed to discredit him. Not his advisers or the civil service fault. As if he should be in total control everywhere & at all times.Straight out of the democrats playbook. By the way did you notice Starmer drinking beer in an indoor meeting in Hartlepool when all these restrictions were in place? Oops that's unfortunate.Talk about being played like a violin. What gets me is I thought people who were able to live in Putney would be clever. If they are able to do so then they must have left their brains behind when they left work.

Paul Rolink ● 1539d

I think he should go as I have said on another thread.  My reason for this is bereavement.   I am an ex-Labour voter who grew up on a council estate in a Conservative stronghold.

Martine Guy ● 1539d

"I have no regrets about voting for Brexit and see a rosy future for my children."So you are happy to keep (soon to be?) Sir Boris as PM then?

David Ainsworth ● 1539d

As I understand it, there are plenty of job vacancies because of Brexit, so young people actually have a chance of finding a job that pays them a decent wage.  I have no regrets about voting for Brexit and see a rosy future for my children.

Martine Guy ● 1539d

Remainiacs "can't acknowledge that UK Plc is better off (albeit eventually)".No, I can't acknowledge that the UK IS better off (albeit eventually). Do you understand why? The verb (IS) is wrong.The UK MAY be better off (albeit eventually), OR, it MAY not be (albeit eventually). We shall see (albeit eventually).

David Ainsworth ● 1539d

Johnson has "made GB the fastest growing economy in G-7 this year and next (OECD)." "Over the course of the pandemic so far (between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the third quarter of 2021), the UK’s economy has experienced the second WORST growth among the G7, contracting by 1.5%." (Fullfact.org)As for next year, we will have to see what actually happens.

David Ainsworth ● 1539d

He should go live in China and be happy he's just deemed a prat over there.

Simon Knight ● 1539d

Lord Adonis (was anyone ever so misnamed?!) was on LBC this morning claiming that Boris should resign and therefore Brexit would not be valid and should be overturned.  What a prize prat he is.🙄

Sue Hammond ● 1539d

Totally agree, thb the "remainiacs" lost, can't accept defeat, can't aknowledge that UK Plc is better off (albeit eventually) and will never ever accept JoBo.Who cares as long as Putneysw15 forum pinkos are on the peripheralries?

Simon Knight ● 1539d

@SimonC'mon it's not like you to sit in the fence.😹I'm not bothered by these gatherings, tbh I really don't give a to$$ about them. Let's be honest this is a Remainiacs forum and they hate Boris for keeping his pledge to get Brexit over the line. That will never change.

Sue Hammond ● 1539d

Cheers Sue, Frankly I'm sick of all these "my $h1t doesn't smell" pinkos who swamp this forum.

Simon Knight ● 1539d

Well said Simon.

Sue Hammond ● 1539d

A very simplistic view:We've all fuked-up in our jobs, made silly non-thinking decisions/allowed things to happen that with hindsight we shouldn't have. And we all buried these under the carpet hoping that it'd never come to light. Johnson isn't Cleopara beyond reproach but to resign doesn't make sense because he didn't kill anybody or pillfer the No.10 petty cash tin, or shag a 17 year old (sorry couldn't resist!).Certainly he knew at the time that "parties" flew in the face of the (then) law, he obviously thought/hoped it would never come to light and ok he was wrong.How many times have we all been wrong and shoved it under the carpet to cover up?Bojo has delivered Brexit, contained Covid and made GB the fasted growing economy in G-7 this yea and next (OECD).What more do you want? And who would you replace him by? Starmer? Pidgeon? Denyer/Ramsey?Bojo for all his faults is the best PM this country has had since Thatcher.

Simon Knight ● 1539d

The British Prime Minister is "primus inter pares" - "first among equals" supposedly. Of course, the 'equals' ain't really.With Johnson the buck stops somewhere else, apparently. Ms Hammond seems to think that the team should take one for the Dodger."With a little bit of bloomin' luck!They're always throwin' goodness at you;But with a little bit of luck a man can duck!"

David Ainsworth ● 1539d

Yes Sue. They should. But they are just sheep following in their leader's footsteps. An honourable leader would step down.

Lucille Grant ● 1539d

But Sue, its not just Starmer, Rayner and Blackford, it's now Ross and many other me members in his own party including Westminster MPs who want him to go. Yes, many others in Downing Street seem to have broken the rules but attitudes and culture are set at the top. Did Johnson set a good example? Did he make any attempt to crack down on social gatherings? Did he turn a going eye when he saw them going on? No, he tried to cover it up until the evidence was overwhelming. Having a party might not he a hanging offence but the lies and deceit are a major concern. What foreign government can believe canything he says or stands for? Look at the mess in Northern Ireland where he promised the DUP "no internal borders"! It's not a witchhunt just the result of all his actions catching up with him. Bet the Queens looking forward to having her next meeting with him … perhaps she'll be as ruthless with Boris as she was with Andrew? (Ok, perhaps not realistic but …) 

Michael Ixer ● 1539d

David I agree that everyone who was fined should be refunded.However I think this is now becoming a witch hunt against Boris personally and not just because he is the PM. I am sick of hearing Smarmer, Rayner, Blackford et al squawking for him to resign. Everyone who attended these parties could have chosen not to go but they went anyway so they are all culpable and must share the responsibility for breaking the rules, should they all resign as well?

Sue Hammond ● 1539d

Sorry, I got double notted."If only the police had somehow not noticed those parties. Refund time?"

David Ainsworth ● 1539d

"Police will not investigate the alleged No 10 parties unless the Sue Gray inquiry finds evidence suggesting the law was broken." (and 'the force did not “normally” investigate historic breaches of Covid-19 regulations').This is not an independent inquiry, is it?Who does get to "recommend whether Boris stays in position", then?-----------------------------------"From March 27 2020 to October 17 2021, there were 371 £10,000 fines issued by police in England for holding gatherings in breach of covid regulations."If only the police had not somehow not noticed those parties. Refund time?

David Ainsworth ● 1539d

She is going to add this event to the list. Her job is to report on the facts, not to recommend whether Boris stays in position.

Sue Hammond ● 1540d

Be fair now. How can there have been a proper party in Downing Street if none of the Met's parliamentary and diplomatic protection command saw people going in or bringing booze in, and heard nothing? Very little for Sue Gray to investigate, is there?Stands to reason.

David Ainsworth ● 1540d

Just been watching Newsnight and heard that Sutton Coldfield Conservative Association has voted unanimously that Boris Johnson should stand down.  This is my home town and I think it is something like the 5th safest Conservative seat in the country.  Virtually everyone I knew voted Conservative and it is true blue.  The person reporting on this on Newsnight said this isn’t a collapse of the red wall, but the blue wall. Yesterday, there was a report from Solihull where voters said they probably wouldn’t vote Conservative if Boris Johnson leads the party.  Another true blue part of the West Midlands. If the voters of Solihull and the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield turn against Boris, then he has to go.

Martine Guy ● 1540d

Starmer has 3 values now, down from 4 a few months ago I'm sure someone must know or care what they are.The interesting thing is no reform. This wasn't just the failures of one man but a failure of all the UK's best in world institutions: civil service, police, BBC etc and even Parliament.Johnson's imperfections were well known beforehand but the UK is still in denial about the wider issues. A quick change of leader and all will be fine!

Ed Robinson ● 1541d

prevaricates,succour,sycophants,aparatchiks, I am just a common person, keep it proper English.

Fross Walters ● 1541d

"The bloke who supported the anti-semite Corbyn despite him having a Jewish wife. God knows what he said to her."Ah, I see that you have not been paying attention for a couple of years. Starmer got to be leader partly thanks to making ten pledges to keep some leftwing policies. He has now abandoned most of them, naturally. And he has shoved Corbyn out into the cold by withdrawing the Labour whip from him. Also he is carrying out a purge of the membership to get rid of socialists. Starmer has little to learn from Johnson, it would seem.Really, I cannot see why you don't approve of Starmer. What more would you have him do?

David Ainsworth ● 1541d

Yeah right. The bloke who supported the anti-semite Corbyn despite him having a Jewish wife. God knows what he said to her.That bloke has no moral compass at all.Still that's OK because he's Labour &  can get away with it.Still got a problem with your integrity & proper democracy. The last election was stolen was it?

Paul Rolink ● 1541d

Easy to do, Richard. There's been so many parties at #10!

Michael Ixer ● 1541d

That's right: my wires crossed there. Apologies, Andy.

Richard Carter ● 1541d

The other "business" meeting in December 20?

Michael Ixer ● 1541d

Secret Santa on 20th May ?

Andy Pike ● 1541d

Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself'.Mark Twain

Hugh Thompson ● 1541d

Its not just Johnson - the fact that he lies and prevaricates is well known and has been for some time - the moral turpitude lies not with Johnson who is simply behaving according to his nature - the moral bankruptcy lies with all those who offer and give him succour and support - May, with good reason and justice, publicly branded the Tory party as the Nasty party and so it still is, unless pf course the spineless sycophants oust Alexander from office. Who to replace him - a general election should decide not the morally bankrupt aparatchiks on the government benches - we are after all supposed to be living in a democracy, if only.

Clifford Cowell ● 1541d

Just to add to that, someone who was at the party/work meeting said “Some people wore Christmas jumpers to the event, while others brought Secret Santa presents." According to another person who was there – you might call them a ‘witness’ – said: "Everyone was packed shoulder to shoulder. If it looks like a party, sounds like a party, stinks of booze and goes on until 2am, it’s a f***ing party.”

Richard Carter ● 1541d

Not quite correct Lucille. I wasn't that bothered either way when Boris was Mayor, although now with hindsight and comparing him with Khan I would welcome Boris back in a heartbeat.  You are right though I did cheer Boris to the rooftops when he fulfilled his pledge to get Brexit over the line and I remain impressed with the vaccine rollout. However I am not impressed with his lack of judgment over these gatherings, (I won't call them parties because they're nothing like the parties I ever went to), he is far too lax and needs to get a serious grip on proceedings if he manages to hang on to his job.

Sue Hammond ● 1541d

Here's something to help Johnson should a similar question arise (at his leaving party/meeting, hopefully)...

Richard Carter ● 1541d

OK, perhaps I agree there.Truss, Gove, Rees-Mogg, Raab, Schapps are most definitely out!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1541d

@IvonneSunak would be my choice.

Sue Hammond ● 1541d

In answer to your question Sue, anyone who can be truthful and has integrity (which probably discounts the entire current Cabinet) will suit me fine. They are all tarred with Johnson's dirt. Incidentally, you thought he was the bees knees when he became London Mayor and afterwards Leader of the Conservatives and Prime Minister. Hope you're satisfied  at his disastrous attempts at running (ruining) this country and the belief he has that the electorate continues to believe him. He has got away with this for far too long.

Lucille Grant ● 1541d

"First off all the civil servants (particularly the senior ones) involved in this debacle should go. Their lack of judgement is astounding."Surely the civil servants will have been chosen by Johnson. Certainly Simon Case was appointed by Johnson. It looks like Johnson got rid of the less sympathetic senior civil servants in various ministries.If you bring in agreeable types, they will do what they believe that you want. If their lack of judgement is astounding, then Johnson and the Tories are to blame.Still, I agree on something. Not Starmer. Nor current Labour.

David Ainsworth ● 1541d

I think the Daily Mash shows how ridiculous his apology is …https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/all-work-byob-from-lunchtime-today-20220112216212#Echobox=1641992298

Michael Ixer ● 1541d

Time for Boris to go? Yes.Time for Starmer to take control ? Absolutely not.First off all the civil servants ( particularly the senior ones) involved in this debacle should go . Their lack of judgement is astounding.Clear all the decks of all involved let the Tories sort out the leadership and move on for the full term of parliament.

Andy Pike ● 1541d

Sir Roger Gale has called Johnson a dead man walking on R4.

David Ainsworth ● 1541d

Agreed!  Not only his apology, long-time coming, is shallow and dishonest, but the May 20th 2020 party was not the only one they had.What is really unforgivable is that he did not come clean before.As one MP said: "He’s not apologised… for breaking the rules and breaking the law. He’s sorry because he’s been caught."

Ivonne Holliday ● 1541d

Sue,That is a difficult question to answer as there are no credible candidates on the conservative side.So, perhaps, under the current circumstances, Keir Starmer.  Why?  It would mean restoring a proper democracy (that has been attacked by the current government) and hopefully integrity.Another two years of the current circus is an impossible notion to bear.Now, who would you like as a PM?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1541d

How to destroy one's authority, credibility and dignity just to hang on to a position ... even Hancock had the sense to go. Are those men on the 1922 committee looking in their wardrobes for their grey suits? If he doesn't jump or isn't pushed from office Johnson might as well just laugh at all those who voted for him. 

Michael Ixer ● 1541d

Guess he didnt read the invite correctly...

Matt Palmer ● 1541d

Un-effing-believable: Johnson claims at PMQs that when he went into the No. 10 garden on 20 May, he thought it was a work event. He says he left after 25 minutes.It took him 25 minutes to discover it was a party, and we're expected to believe that??? Is that the best he can come up with?

Richard Carter ● 1541d

@Lucille and IvonneWho would you prefer as PM?

Sue Hammond ● 1541d

Agreed!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1541d