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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boris Johnson

40 replies

GirlsBlouse17 · 24/03/2018 08:11

AIBU to suggest Boris Johnson should think carefully before speaking about anything?

I know it wasn't his original comment about the Putin World Cup and Hitler Olympics comparison but he agreed the comment was valid. I don't think he should have done this. It has just stirred up more hostility between the UK and Russia. He can be reckless with his words.

OP posts:
TheSnowFairy · 24/03/2018 08:11

... is a complete arse.

YANBU

Lichtie · 24/03/2018 08:12

Nobody takes him seriously, he's like Prince Philip, people just find it amusing how idiotic he can be

chipsandpeas · 24/03/2018 08:13

he wants to be seen as controversial but hes coming across as a dick

ReluctantCamper · 24/03/2018 08:20

a perfect example of the peter principle. and this over privileged sociopath genuinely thinks he should be prime minister.

oh for the self confidence of a mediocre man.

Original poster
GirlsBlouse17 · 24/03/2018 08:21

When he speaks it always looks like he is saying the first thing that has come into his head

OP posts:
NewYearNewMe18 · 24/03/2018 08:25

Widely regarded by his Oxford dons as a genius. Only armchair housewives in their dressing gowns, still supping the first coffee of the day would think him 'mediocre'.

DailyWailEatsSnails · 24/03/2018 08:26

Like Trumpo, believes so much in own opinions that he thinks he doesn't need to filter them.

ReluctantCamper · 24/03/2018 08:31

crikey NewYearNewMe18, you are Boris's mum and I claim my £5.

Or are you one of his many mistresses maybe? I generally hope that our prime minister would have some personal integrity, but maybe you don't feel that's important.

I mean he's doing such an amazing job of being foreign secretary, obviously I withdraw my comments.

Deshasafraisy · 24/03/2018 08:33

Any other profession and he would have been sacked for such gross misconduct. Our political system is disgustingly corrupt

User123OnTheWine · 24/03/2018 08:35

I expect his bumbling 'put my foot in it' moments are not what they seem.

This is an intelligent man who comes across like a bumbling bafoon, but I'm pretty sure he is very aware of what he's saying and for whatever reason is choosing to appear bumbling and 'put his foot in it'. I don't know what they 'why's' are, but I'd be surprised if all these errors are genuine.

SinglePringle · 24/03/2018 08:35

I somewhat agree with NewYear, in that the ‘buffoon’ persona is a very cleverly calculated creation. He is a skilled politician (I do not agree with his POV however) and nothing comes out of his mouth without thought. He knew exactly what he was doing (creating more instability around May / deflecting from Brexit / ensuring he was part of the agenda).

He might be stupid but he ain’t daft.

SinglePringle · 24/03/2018 08:36

Crosspost!!

dangerrabbit · 24/03/2018 08:36

Yeah exactly dailywail re Trump. Maybe Boris has adopted Trump’s strategy of creating offensive and controversial sound bites to keep him in the news. His strategy is presumably to keep himself continually in the news so he appears current next time the tories have a leadership election.

FittonTower · 24/03/2018 08:38

I don't think he's mediocre and i do take him seriously, I think he's a very very dangerous man.
But I'm not a housewife, wearing a dressing gown or sitting in an armchair. Top mysogyny tho NewYear, well done you.

isthismummy · 24/03/2018 08:39

Agreed SinglePringle He's a very calculating man and his bumbling persona is very carefully contrived to fool people.

He scares me. Then again the whole Tory party do.

TheSnowFairy · 24/03/2018 08:41

Being intellectually clever does not give you an understanding of people or how to work with them.

So he know Latin and Greek? Big deal. He lies, fudges and cheats in every situation.

ReluctantCamper · 24/03/2018 08:43

yeah, I revise my statement. He's not mediocre, he's an outstanding liar, who mostly manages to make it work but has been sacked twice for lying (that's how I know this statement isn't libellous).

He should be no where near government. How do we think he's doing on the Nolan principles for public life?

  1. Selflessness
  1. Integrity
  1. Objectivity
  1. Accountability
  1. Openness
  1. Honesty
  1. Leadership
User123OnTheWine · 24/03/2018 08:45

I can think of two other world leaders with comical persona's - the first was Hitler (I'm not comparing Boris exactly to Hitler - but seeing as he doesn't mind linking Hitler with other leaders, I am following suit). Hitler was a little comical man who people at the top thought they'd get to push around and influence. However - we all know what happened when he was placed in a position of power, and he certainly wasn't the comical figure he was first thought to be.

The other is Trump - and we can all see what a nightmare his presidency is turning into.

StealthPolarBear · 24/03/2018 08:45

"Lichtie

Nobody takes him seriously, he's like Prince Philip, people just find it amusing how idiotic he can be".
He's foreign secretary. If no one takes him seriously that in itself is incredibly worrying

ReluctantCamper · 24/03/2018 08:53

I am not a tory, but I do have respect for some of them. I always felt that William Hague was doing an excellent job of being foreign secretary.

Not this fella though.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 24/03/2018 09:00

He must be academically capable and have at least average intelligence. None of us know him or have tested his IQ, and the fact that someone with his background and upbringing got into Oxford decades ago and charmed his dons is not proof of exceptional intellectual gifts. What we do know is that he is proving to be unsuited to his post.

His comments agreeing with the comparison between present day Russia and the Nazi regime were quite frankly offensive; I am shocked this hasn't caused an uproar. I guess it's reflective of
a ) the UK's powerlessness against Russian attacks like the recent one
b) the general anti-foreign climate - it's an easy way for a certain type of politician to score points with some voters.

But hey what do I know - I'm on mumsnet so I must be just a little housewife Hmm

ReluctantCamper · 24/03/2018 09:02

Yes, I'm not clear on if it was the coffee, the dressing gown or the housewife bit that rendered me unsuitable to give an opinion. Boris's mum was only right on 2 out of 3 counts for me though so maybe I am allowed to have an opinion after all?

phoebemac · 24/03/2018 09:06

FittonTower I agree. He is a very dangerous man. The buffoon stuff is an act to give him a sort of bumbling charm to mask his the real persona. Beneath the mask I think he is probably quite terrifying. He makes me think of this poem :

Cruelty has a Human Heart
And Jealousy a Human Face
Terror the Human Form Divine
And Secrecy, the Human Dress

The Human Dress, is forged Iron
The Human Form, a fiery Forge.
The Human Face, a Furnace seal'd
The Human Heart, its hungry Gorge

William Blake

colleysmill · 24/03/2018 09:10

My theory is that he is desperately trying to get himself sacked by TM so he can play the "oh brexit would have been better if I was in the cabinet" card and she's playing a long game by keeping him there and making him accountable

Dangerous games when the country's future is at stake whichever way you voted

colleysmill · 24/03/2018 09:13

I might have also watched too many political dramas and reading far too much into it 😂