Theresa May Resigns & Conservative Leader Election Discussion

[Mag_seven]

Well Brexit's got what they wanted; so now they can only blame themselves for the complete mess they are getting the country in.

Except that they wont - just you wait and see. It will be someone else's fault you can bet on that.

 

[Bantamzen]

I for one am looking forward to our Mad Max future.

Will it be like a Zombie Apocalypse, because I've been training for a Zombie Apocalypse…

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

He will not officially take over until tomorrow afternoon, following May's visit to Buckingham Palace to tender her resignation, then he will approach HM The Queen for permission to form a new Government.

I see that both the incumbent in the USA and Johnson have a common liking for extravagant hairstyles.

 

[TheEdge]

Will it be like a Zombie Apocalypse, because I've been training for a Zombie Apocalypse…

I'd imagine you've got some transferable skills

 

[Bantamzen]

I'd imagine you've got some transferable skills

That's all I need to know.....

 

[DarloRich]

Yeah just saw the announcement, I don’t have much faith in him as PM as apart from Brexit he needs to get the national infrastructure schemes started such as continuing with HS2, expand Heathrow, restart the electrification schemes that Grayling cancelled.

that isnt going to happen.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, if I leave the swear words out of my reaction to that then I am speechless.

 

[Esker-pades]

His first words as leader were a lie. Sign of things to come.

 

[dgl]

Can't the Queen just say no? Would cause a constitutional crisis but would be fun to watch.
Imagine BoJo being told NO!

But as HIGNFY put it "Breaking: We're screwed"

 

[mmh]

I'm glad to see you're all taking the "news" so calmly and rationally.

 

[DarloRich]

I'm glad to see you're all taking the "news" so calmly and rationally.

The man is utterly unfit to be PM. He is completely lacking in moral fibre or responsibility and the truth appears to be a stranger to him. His attention to detail is zero, he is a philanderer who wont acknowledge the results of his extra curricular activities and his record in office is shocking. His sole interest is advancing the interests of Boris Johnson.

Apart from that nowt to worry about.

 

[Ianno87]

Can't the Queen just say no? Would cause a constitutional crisis but would be fun to watch.
Imagine BoJo being told NO!

Technically she can if she doesn't think he can form a working government? Though calling it 'unprecedented' would be an understatement if she did...

 

[Bantamzen]

Technically she can if she doesn't think he can form a working government? Though calling it 'unprecedented' would be an understatement if she did...

Personally I'm hoping that she pretends to be out when Boris calls around to get her consent. I can just see her hiding behind the Royal Coach asking "Has the fool gone yet?"....

 

[furnessvale]

Well Brexit's got what they wanted; so now they can only blame themselves for the complete mess they are getting the country in.

Example; the US wants us to capture a tanker, but washes it's hands of us when we ask for assistance in the Gulf, and we have to go cap-in-hand to the EU for protection.

Ah, well. Thank goodness I haven't many years left - reaching my 60's is turning out to be a blessing.

Is there now a single EU leadership in defence matters? I thought an EU army (which for the avoidance of doubt will include naval and air forces) was simply brexit supporters fear mongering.

I believe the UK is talking to various European countries who have a common interest in free passage over the high seas, as we have always done before the EU was a glint in Junker/Tusk/Verhopstadt's eye.

 

[Busaholic]

Interesting comments by Rory Stewart in the i. He went to see Johnson yesterday to explain why he wouldn't want to be considered for continued ministerial office, and he wasn't at all sure that Johnson knew who he was! Cue satirical remarks and all that, but he had to jog his memory by saying that he'd been the one who discarded his shoes in the first TV 'contest.' He still wasn't sure Johnson twigged, though it could have been the ultimate putdown, I guess.

 

[Esker-pades]

I'm glad to see you're all taking the "news" so calmly and rationally.

What sort of rational response do you want?

My (abridged) rational response is:
Truth:
He has been fired for lying twice. Once was for making up quotes as a journalist from The Times. The other was lying about an affair whilst in the Shadow Cabinet of Michael Howard. He continues to use the truth at best very economically (at worst he says whatever to gain power - you decide). His most recent public display where he stood waving a kipper saying that EU laws meant that importing it from the Isle of Man to the UK Mainland was more difficult was utter rubbish. UK laws made it more difficult and the laws are there for good reason.

Words:
He has a long record of saying things which are discriminatory and in some cases damaging. The "picanninies with watermelon smiles", "bumboys in tank tops" and the like are well-documented. Not only does that possibly display his "real" views on issues of sexuality, race etc., it can also cause real damage. There is a link between prominent figures saying or printing words and people getting abused (verbally or physically).
Of course, the most obvious example of his words doing serious damage is the additional 5 years he put on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's jail scentence in Iran.

Although important, neither of those get to the main problem which is that his public persona is entirely manufactured. He is known to his friends as 'Al', not 'Boris'. The bumbling person with the messed-up hair and poorly fitting suits is deliberate. The public don't actually know who he is, let alone what his views are. Because we know that Johnson has changed his views on so many things. The question has to be "why"? One analysis (and the one I subscribe to) is he does it so that he can get into power and not for any other reason.

There's quite a good article from the BBC which looks at his public record. I've also put in a link from the BBC World Service programme The Inquiry which is a good listen (broadcast yesterday).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48663963
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csytg7

Boris Johnson has won the race to be Conservative leader and will soon be prime minister. He is one of the UK's most recognisable politicians.

But that high profile - built up as an MP, London mayor and foreign secretary - has often seen his achievements accompanied by controversy.
Becoming an MP

As editor of the Spectator magazine and a Have I Got News For You contestant, Boris Johnson was already well known for his shambolic persona.

In 2001, he became an MP, replacing Michael Heseltine in the safe Conservative seat of Henley-on-Thames.

He turned up with 2 minutes to go. He comes crashing into his seat and says "now, what am I supposed to do?".... He grabs some paper and a biro and writes down two words ('sheep' and 'shark'). He then goes on and delivers a full speech.

Quite by chance I happened to be at another after-dinner event where Johnson is supposed to give a speech a few years later. He came in with one minute before he was due to come on and said "now, what am I supposed to do?" He wrote the same two words down on a scrap of paper and then went on to deliver the same speech - word for word - with all the same mistakes, mis-pronunciations etc..

As I said at the start, that last one from Jeremy Vine is not verbatim - you should listen to The Inquiry to get the exact wording, but the overall anecdote is the same.

 

[43021HST]

Well it appears Bannon and dodgy American alt right money has further got its claws into British Politics, so much for British sovereignty.
Going down the conspiratorial route, like Trump, I genuinely think Boris is that buffoonish, however he has some very clever handlers.

For those forecasting an imminent mad max type scenario, politics is an extremely long game, the effects of political ideological shifts are not fully felt until 20 - 30 years later, (Brexit will be one of those), so depending on your viewpoint, it'll either be a gradual decline not noticed until it's far too late, akin to the frog boiling experiment, or in era of prosperity that's taken for granted (This one I very much doubt), but by that point the original decision has been forgotten, and the simulacra starts again.

 

[Geezertronic]

Like in the US, isn't Johnson the lesser of two evils (or even three)? Would you like a Corbyn-led government or a government with Farage playing the Nick Clegg role?

 

[43021HST]

Like in the US, isn't Johnson the lesser of two evils (or even three)? Would you like a Corbyn-led government or a government with Farage playing the Nick Clegg role?

I'll take the Corbyn led government, for 10 points. Please

 

[Giugiaro]

Not surprising at all. May as well have thrown him into Downing Street right after May's resignation.

 

[Aictos]

that isnt going to happen.

I know but it should!

 

[bramling]

The man is utterly unfit to be PM. He is completely lacking in moral fibre or responsibility and the truth appears to be a stranger to him. His attention to detail is zero, he is a philanderer who wont acknowledge the results of his extra curricular activities and his record in office is shocking. His sole interest is advancing the interests of Boris Johnson.

Apart from that nowt to worry about.

I have to say I’m very wary of today’s developments. However, his appointment essentially comes as the result of him being the least worst - at this time we don’t appear to have been able to find anyone better.

By that token I think Boris needs to be given a chance. Today has seen the first feeling of positivity in U.K. politics for some while. Never know it might just all work out okay...

 

[scotrail158713]

Can't the Queen just say no? Would cause a constitutional crisis but would be fun to watch.
Imagine BoJo being told NO!

But as HIGNFY put it "Breaking: We're screwed"

She could - although it’s apparently the one thing she can get arrested for, according to my Modern Studies teacher from my school days.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'll take the Corbyn led government, for 10 points. Please

Where do you intend to take them ?

 

[DarloRich]

By that token I think Boris needs to be given a chance. Today has seen the first feeling of positivity in U.K. politics for some while. Never know it might just all work out okay...

Positivity isnt going to fix the problems we face and it certainly isnt going to deliver a sensible Brexit. Also "positivity" does not remove the point that Johnson is utterly unfit, by virtue of his character, to to be PM.

I'll take the Corbyn led government, for 10 points. Please

I would rather have a labour government led by someone who isnt an utter crackpot, facilitator of antisemitism, friend of terrorists and supporter of every barmpot dictator/regime going.

 

[bramling]

Positivity isnt going to fix the problems we face and it certainly isnt going to deliver a sensible Brexit. Also "positivity" does not remove the point that Johnson is utterly unfit, by virtue of his character, to to be PM.

I know, and to some extent I share the scepticism. However there’s no value in writing off his premiership before it’s even started. If everyone snipes and undermines then it *will* turn out to be a failure. There’s no value in wanting something to be a failure, where we all suffer, just because you or we dislike someone.

It’s not like Corbyn offers an attractive alternative.

 

[GrimShady]

Positivity isnt going to fix the problems we face and it certainly isnt going to deliver a sensible Brexit. Also "positivity" does not remove the point that Johnson is utterly unfit, by virtue of his character, to to be PM.



I would rather have a labour government led by someone who isnt an utter crackpot, facilitator of antisemitism, friend of terrorists and supporter of every barmpot dictator/regime going.

Who is fit to be PM?

 

[DarloRich]

Who is fit to be PM?

No idea. But we could start with someone who, if he is man enough to cheat on his wife, is man enough to acknowledge his responsibilities towards the results.

 

[GrimShady]

No idea. But we could start with someone who, if he is man enough to cheat on his wife, is man enough to acknowledge his responsibilities towards the results.

It's not as if scandal hasn't followed politicians though is it? Ask the youth of today about Winston Churchill had you'll here various accusations.

Most of them in my view are unfit to hold office never mind PM.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The man is utterly unfit to be PM. He is completely lacking in moral fibre or responsibility and the truth appears to be a stranger to him. His attention to detail is zero, he is a philanderer who wont acknowledge the results of his extra curricular activities and his record in office is shocking. His sole interest is advancing the interests of Boris Johnson.

Apart from that nowt to worry about.

For once, I completely agree with everything you've said! (or should that be )