Boris Johnson

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Gaybutton
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Boris Johnson

Post by Gaybutton »

Apparently Boris Johnson is going to be the UK's next Prime Minister. I really don't know much about him - too much trouble already trying to keep track of Trump's goings on.

I'm curious as to the opinions about Johnson of those of you from the UK. Of course, anyone is entitled to express opinions about Boris Johnson wherever you come from, but I am most interested in the opinions of those of you who will be living under his government.
fountainhall

Re: Boris Johnson

Post by fountainhall »

Although not living in the UK, he is a Trump clone. Lots of public appeal but same wacky ideas, same self-belief, same lying, same ego-centric narcissist. As far as Brexit is concerned, I believe he was a remainer until he saw the political opportunism of joining the out brigade. This campaign lied big-time, although it has to be said that the remain campaign was singularly ineffective as though they did not believe they had any reason to fight for their views.

Sterling has already fallen 17% since Brexit was announced and stands at £1.24 = US$1. The pundits today suggest it will fall by a further 10-15% if Johnson cannot get a better deal out of the EU and leaves without a negotiated deal! Since the EU mandarins have said they will not budge on the deal negotiated with Teresa May and Johnson has said he will leave on October 31 come hell or high water, the outlook for sterling in the short to medium term seems awful.
traveller123

Re: Boris Johnson

Post by traveller123 »

All that needs to be said is that he is Trump junior.
Fountainhall has already said he is a total narcissist.
God help us UK pensioners remitting to Thailand, 25 baht = 1 GBP anybody?
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Captain Kirk
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Re: Boris Johnson

Post by Captain Kirk »

As above, they've elected Boris Trump. Headline policy in the leadership election was tax cuts for the wealthy. This guy has insulted practically everyone who is not wealthy white heterosexual pure bred Anglo Saxon. I'm about to go back to my working class Scottish roots now so the puritanical need read no further.

He's a fucking scumbag.
firecat69

Re: Boris Johnson

Post by firecat69 »

I Think the arguments about him will have to be a little more nuanced. He really does have a good education unlike the Moron Trump who threatens all his schools if they ever released his grades. He was out from the beginning that getting out of the Iran Deal was a mistake by Trump. He is going to have a very slim margin and will likely have to get some support from the other parties in order to govern.

Unlike Trump he is not a stupid man who only had success because his daddy gave him $220 million and then continued to take millions from Putin and China. Would not be the first time that when an educated man takes the wheel, history will push him in a direction not necessarily the same as some quotes when he had no power.

I hope so because if the UK and USA are ruled by complete idiots with no understanding of history, the world be easy prey for Putin and Communist China.

No telling where that could lead?
fountainhall

Re: Boris Johnson

Post by fountainhall »

firecat69 wrote: Wed Jul 24, 2019 7:09 pm He really does have a good education unlike the Moron Trump who threatens all his schools if they ever released his grades . . . Unlike Trump he is not a stupid man
Although I look at my country from a distance, I have to say I do not think that receiving a "good education" is a guarantee of anything. I am sure history has thousands of examples of dictators, murderers and general idiots and sickos who went to good schools and received good grades. In the case of Johnson, I refer you to the article below by his former editor at the Daily Telegraph. In case you are not aware of the politics of UK newspapers, the Telegraph as it is now named is very much right of centre. Max Hastings was a highly respected editor and is now an awesome author. His article is headed

I was Boris Johnson’s boss: he is utterly unfit to be prime minister

A few brief excerpts -
There is room for debate about whether he is a scoundrel or mere rogue, but not much about his moral bankruptcy, rooted in a contempt for truth.
I have known Johnson since the 1980s, when I edited the Daily Telegraph and he was our flamboyant Brussels correspondent. I have argued for a decade that, while he is a brilliant entertainer who made a popular maître d’ for London as its mayor, he is unfit for national office, because it seems he cares for no interest save his own fame and gratification.
his premiership will almost certainly reveal a contempt for rules, precedent, order and stability.
Like many showy personalities, he is of weak character.
Johnson would not recognise truth, whether about his private or political life, if confronted by it in an identity parade.
Not a stupid man? Sorry, firecat69, but I have difficulty believing that. I accept your comment contains an "if" at the end and further that time will tell. But my money is on Hasting's view of the man.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... ty-britain
Jun

Re: Boris Johnson

Post by Jun »

I don't think Boris Johnson is as bad as Trump, but it's not a great advert for our system when a country of approximately 60 million people ends up with someone like that as Prime Minister.
Also the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, is almost an order of magnitude worse. Despite having had 70 years on the planet to observe what works and what doesn't, he still admires the Venezuela socialist regime. I think Lee Kuan Yiew said something like "figure out what works and do it". Corbyn might as well say "see what doesn't work and still do it".
Plus various other faults, such as anti-semitism etc.

At least Boris Johnson will probably surround himself with people smarter than himself, so there may be some hope. Let's hope he's good enough to win an election and remain in power until Corbyn is kicked out or dies. I don't care which (considering the damage he would do)

Incidentally, I believe the Liberals recently elected a new leader. Lets hope she also presents a credible alternative.
fountainhall

Re: Boris Johnson

Post by fountainhall »

What makes me wonder is why western democracy has thrown up lousy leaders of the nature of Trump, Johnson and Corbyn in just two countries at the same time. Granted Trump's pal Putin gave him a good leg up, and Putin's henchmen may also have been responsible in part for the Brexit result which of course has directly led to Johnson's elevation. But surely there has to be something wrong with these country's electoral systems and the protection of those systems by outside influences!

Other countries like Italy and Hungary are virtually in the same boat.
Jun

Re: Boris Johnson

Post by Jun »

There are various contributors to the Brexit vote. One example is the total failure of British politicians to tackle the excessive UK contribution to the EU. The NET contribution of the UK has been twice that of France, which is a similar sized economy.

Also, periodically the voters become unhappy with their lot and populism rises, as we saw in the 1930s.

Ideally, western democracy needs a few reforms. For a start, we need to attract some better quality people with proven management skill. Instead we get people who talk well, but cannot even add up or understand the basics of economics & human incentives.
Singapore has a better set up, which requires their leader to have had previous management experience at a high level.
This may be marginally less democratic, but overall it dramatically reduces the probability of a total failure of the economy, which might be followed by the election of another Hitler and total loss of democracy.

Another way might be to have an independent supervisory board to oversee government & ensure a few rules & principles are followed.
For example, balancing budgets over a rolling 5 year period. Also, they could make sure the unintended consequences of dumb policies are flagged up & possibly vetoed in some cases.
The House of Lords is supposed to be in that role, but unfortunately it's got too many ex-MPs, so we have the wrong type of people. What is needed is oversight of the government by some successful people. High calibre people at the level of Lord Sugar, James Dyson, Anthony Bamford & even Alex Ferguson.

Also, for every bit of legislation, it should be mandatory to check what happened when something similar has been tried in other countries, or our own in the past. Perhaps MPs should even be required to answer a multiple choice test on that, before even being allowed to vote on the current bill. So we might have more informed decision making.

We could also do with a better code of conduct for MPs. My local MP no longer bothers to reply to constituents letters. She has, however, found time to spend a few weeks away on a TV show and has written at least 2 books in recent years.

Also, it could be far worse than Boris Johnson.
TomUK
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Re: Boris Johnson

Post by TomUK »

Gaybutton wrote: Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:40 am I'm curious as to the opinions about Johnson of those of you from the UK. Of course, anyone is entitled to express opinions about Boris Johnson wherever you come from, but I am most interested in the opinions of those of you who will be living under his government.
Let me put it like this: "Houston, the village idiot has landed - in Downing Street". With the moron in the White House that should really cement the special relationship between the US and the UK. I only wonder whether the creepy little man Nigel Farage will be in charge of the grouting.

To top it all, Liz Truss has become the International Trade Secretary. I'm totally cheesed off. I think I have to disgrace myself and go and buy some foreign cheese now.

Sometimes I just wonder whether we live in an age of mediocrity right now. How else can it be possible that all these imbeciles can be in charge of running countries or big companies (Carillion)?
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