Boris Johnson campaign like a creepy real life version of Vivian Rook

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Populist Vivian in amazing dystopian drama Years and Years wins her campaign by staying away from hustings and releasing her messages without challenge direct to her own tribe via her own tv channel.

Our own scary populist boris Johnson speaks to his 100,000 voters (the aging party membership) directly through his Telegraph column, announcing his ‘tax cuts for rich pensioners’ policy, crafted especially for them, and refuses to engage with anyone who might challenge his opinions and reveal him for the charlatan that he is. He even gets paid around £180,000 for the privilege of mainlining this stuff into his audience.

Bloody hell - when life imitates art. It’s not funny. It’s quietly terrifying. Democracy anyone?

I agree it's frightening. The man has no shame.

It is terrifying, Yanbu. I also simply think that he knows too well that when he actually speaks he fucks things up very quickly so the best bet is to say nothing. However as you say it makes him look weird and creepy and hopefully his approach will end in doing him no favours.

Honestly, why care who their leader is? They are all vile, and we don't get to choose anyway. They would all privatise anything that moves, and sell it to their mates. They'd make sure we all paid a low sum to buy services back or use them -in the first year or two-then shit loads after that. They'd privatise education and health, and get rid of local authorities.

Bit extreme but yes that kind of sums up the tory approach so that is why we do care!

I care because whoever is elected will, at least in the short term, be our next - unelected - PM, and responsible for implementing the already calamitous policy choice that is brexit.

I read his books years ago. He never hid that has an untra right agenda and would have as small a state as possible, and maximise privatisation.

Yes. Although vile Viv is a dead ringer for Esther McVey vocally, makes me shudder to hear her.

He has books?! God help us.

100,000 voters (the aging party membership)

Except for those of us that saw this leadership contest coming and thought the £2 a month donation to the Tory party was worth it to have a say in who the next PM is!

Direct debit shall be cancelled immediately after the vote.

But mojo, at your membership level you only get to vote between the final 2, right? So you might help to keep Johnson out, but it will be by voting in favour of Gove or Hunt or whoever else it is? Kudos for your forethought but not much of a choice. I'm team Rory Stewart - but not a Tory and never have been (laughable idea) so I've got no say. But I actually like him. At the moment still just in shock that there's a Tory that I can like and imagine having a decent conversation with.

Are you saying he has integrity SofasurfingSally (genuine question)?

If it weren't for his overweening ambition, I would say it's all a game to him. If he gets chosen to lead the Conservatives, the best we can hope for is a GE, if for no other reason than it would be interesting to see how his rhetoric changes when he is appealing to a completely different electorate.

Not that a GE would solve anything with regard to Brexit.

There'll be a snap election within a few months of this happening. If BoJo got the top job the conservatives would be fucked for life.

My money is on Sajid Javid and even as a non tory I'd say he was the best option.

Boris being elitist who would have thought he is appealing to elderly members who probably don't watch much television but will read the paper I think it is being sneaky just selective the thought of Boris as Pm gives me nightmares

In general terms, not at all, @Singingcricket.. We know he lied during the referendum.

Our own scary populist boris Johnson speaks to his 100,000 voters (the aging party membership) directly through his Telegraph column, announcing his ‘tax cuts for rich pensioners’ policy, crafted especially for them, and refuses to engage with anyone who might challenge his opinions and reveal him for the charlatan that he is.

Perhaps you don't read the comments section then, as not everyone likes Boris. Not everyone who reads the DT is a Conservative party member. I have a DT subscription as it is cheaper than paying the extortionate price for a DT here in Belgium, but I am not a paid up member of the Tories.

I would like to point out that raising the higher rate threshold is long overdue, as more and more people who would not formerly have been seen as Higher Rate Taxpayers have been dragged into the higher rate band because of fiscal drag. Putting more money into everyone's pockets who pay HRT is no bad thing surely?

No, you may not pay NI if you are state pension age on any salary you receive if you are still working, as you have presumably paid the maximum number of years mandated for your state pension, but you are still paying tax.

Yes, I read the comments on the D Telegraph too,for a laugh. Many on there have finally twigged he that he is untrustworthy and a liar so are going to vote for the Brexit party in a general election.