Forum Topic

We all knew, didn't we?

"The 18 most controversial Boris Johnson quotes unearthed during the general election campaign.Racism, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia, classism and homophobia are among the charges" (inews, 11/12/2019 - election eve)https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-quotes-controversy-comments-general-election-2019-campaign-372969"He's a cheery old card".And he will survive. (Reminder: The value of my predictions can go down as well as up. Other predictions are available.)

David Ainsworth ● 1117d26 Comments

Like millions of others  I’am politically homeless.

Paul Beer ● 1115d

Mr Hawkes. Agreed, the Guardian and Mirror are left leaning, although I'm not sure they were great supporters of Mr Corbyn? Probably preferred him to Johnson. Not sure about the Independent or "i" these days. But the Times, Telegraph, FT, Express, Mail, Sun and the freebies: Metro and Evening Standard were, if I remember correctly, not great fans of Mr Corbyn? So that seems a pretty strong bias to the right? Interesting that someone else on this site was complaining about the BBC giving Johnson an easy time! I suspect they try and be impartial but don't always get it right; I don't thing Ofcom has been chasing them for bias, has it? Or perhaps Ofcom are too busy with Russia Today?

Michael Ixer ● 1115d

Well, if you must have some, you can pick out some of these:-"YouGov selected a sample of nine Labour policies* that were either in the 2017 manifesto or otherwise well-publicised proposals.In none of the European countries surveyed are any of Corbyn’s policies opposed by more people than supported. In fact, most of the time they’re supported by the majority.Labour’s pledge to make university tuition free for all students garners majority support in every country listed, as does their proposal to generate 60% of electricity and heat from low carbon or renewable sources by 2030.In the UK this energy pledge is the most popular of all, being supported by 79% of people, followed by capping rents (74%) and raising taxes for the richest 5% of earners (68%)."https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/01/09/eurotrack-corbyns-policies-popular-europe-and-ukThey appear to be popular, but the electorate rejected the Labour Party anyway. Obviously it was not all about policies. And Starmer, despite apparently backing them then, does not seem likely to back them now."Mr Starmer won large swathes of support from Labour’s left in the contest to replace Corbyn after he issued a list of 10 pledges which aimed to CONTINUE key elements of his predecessor's policies.However, as noted by political website Guido Fawkes, Mr Starmer has arguably BROKEN all of his pledges since taking charge of Labour."https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1498591/keir-starmer-labour-party-conference-boris-johnson-10-pledges-jeremy-corbyn-sptIs this what your question meant?

David Ainsworth ● 1115d

Mr Ixer'the right wing bias of the press'I presume you are not referring to the Guardian, Independent, Mirror are you and surely not the BBC ?

John Hawkes ● 1115d

Mr AinsworthCan you give us say three policies a 'left wing' Corbyn government would have done that a 'right wing one would have objected to ?And perhaps your odds on the general public voting for them ?

John Hawkes ● 1115d

Winston Winstanley I think you should be Prime Minister .

Nick Gulliford ● 1115d

I do not think Corbyn had enough support to win a general election outright.  What was really reprehensible of Boris Johnson was withdrawing the whip from some 20 elected MPs just because they were not pro-Brexit.I think both parties have a lot to answer for but, in all honesty, nothing akin to what Boris Johnson, his ilk are doing at the moment.  The elected conservative MPs do not have a backbone among them, sadly.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1116d

"Interesting, Corbyn was unlikely ever to gain an overall majority in the HoC but would have been moderated by a need to cooperate with other parties if people were concerned about his left wing views."He would also have had to cooperate with other members of his party, but they chose not to. They chose instead to try to break him and to cripple the party.

David Ainsworth ● 1116d

Ed, I agree that our system is flawed in that it can give a party which doesn't have more than 50% of the national votes what are, in effect, dictatorial powers. However, when given the option to introduce the Alternative Vote system (which I also don't believe was ideal although better than FPTP) the UK electorate rejected it so perhaps the they are  happy with a system that puts a duplicitous buffoon in power?Additionally, the right wing bias of the press has a significant influence on voters, particularly by demonising J Corbyn. Interesting, Corbyn was unlikely ever to gain an overall majority in the HoC but would have been moderated by a need to cooperate with other parties if people were concerned about his left wing views. The  BBC has to be impartial, and obviously has to be worried about what a Conservative government will do with its funding, so perhaps one could argue its democratic position is undermined by worrying about a Conservative government winning if it challenges them too vigorously?

Michael Ixer ● 1116d

David,I guess we would also have to add in those people that believe in the first past the post. After all if we had PR we would have a different political landscape.What about the media, the BBC gave him a soft ride.I guess the list could go on.Johnson is a product of our political system, which is not very democratic and in need of reform. Such a flawed person could not become PM without the help of the same system. It is not the fault of those that voted for that party or Brexit. It doesn't mean they share his views on everything.What we should be asking is what if someone far worse than Johnson does the same?

Ed Robinson ● 1116d

"Some Labour MPs preferred a Conservative government to a  Labour one under Corbyn. Surely you would have to put them in the same category as Boris voters?"Umm, some of those Labour MPs at least did the decent thing and went over to the Tories. Others of them just stayed as Labour MPs but indulged in wrecking behaviour, as did some Labour Party workers apparently. So they managed to stop Corbyn, but they would also seem to have spoiled Labour's chances for another decade. They may be right, of course, to drive out their leftwing supporters. Perhaps a rightwing Labour Party will beat the Tories. I just don't see the point of such a victory.

David Ainsworth ● 1116d

Not necessarily. They might just want to have a wife with larger breasts and a BMW M3.

Michael Winstanley ● 1116d

just pat her on the bottom and send her on her way

Michael Winstanley ● 1116d

David,Some Labour MPs preferred a Conservative government to a  Labour one under Corbyn. Surely you would have to put them in the same category as Boris voters?

Ed Robinson ● 1116d

"I thought the next general election will be held in May 2024, if not before.  Am I wrong?"Under the previous law you would have been right, but, according to Wikipedia, "the next United Kingdom general election is scheduled to be held no later than Friday 24 January 2025, after the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 repealed the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_United_Kingdom_general_election#Date_of_the_election

David Ainsworth ● 1117d

"Meaning of course that you agree they are.Only you probably are an exception."We are all part of the general population, aren't we?

David Ainsworth ● 1117d

Mr Ainsworth'so the general population must be susceptible to 'Racism, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia, classism and homophobia'.'"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment".Meaning of course that you agree they are.Only you probably are an exception.

John Hawkes ● 1117d

"Going back a bit aren't you ?"Sorry, I didn't realise that there was a statute of limitations for Johnson. Unlike for others."so the general population must be susceptible to 'Racism, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia, classism and homophobia'."You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment.

David Ainsworth ● 1117d

Three years left?  Hoe, and I hope not!!I thought the next general election will be held in May 2024, if not before.  Am I wrong?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1117d

Mr AinsworthGoing back a bit aren't you ?This dates back to just before the Conservatives won an 80 seat majority so the general population must be susceptible to 'Racism, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia, classism and homophobia'.

John Hawkes ● 1117d

Remember Trump saying he could shoot someone dead in the street and people would still vote for him?  Well...

Judy Allen ● 1117d

Johnson will probably have to be responsible for something even worse. And he has nearly 3 years left in which to do it.Of course, anyone can change.

David Ainsworth ● 1117d

They probably even share those "values"?

Michael Ixer ● 1117d

Well people knew all that and still voted him in, so you can only assume most people dont care

Matt Palmer ● 1117d

So the Prime Minister of the country is accused of displaying of racism, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia, classism and homophobia, all written when he was aged 30 and beyond, and you find it boring???

Richard Carter ● 1117d

So boring ...🥱

Sue Hammond ● 1117d