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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Boris would win a general election

295 replies

HoneyIgrewthekids · 05/09/2019 14:13

Well that really, Im a big remainer but I cant help but feel that at an election Bojo would win and win big. Its depressing and I cant see how anyone could vote for him but I see him winning a majority at the polls especially since the remain vote is split.

Aibu

OP posts:
curlykaren · 05/09/2019 17:56

The narrative on the rolling news services is slowly changing, already discussing that BJ may resign, is stranded without a majority and rapidly dwindling goodwill from his own party and family. Having been out maneuvered on his general election strategy his options are limited. At the last election labour were polling over 20 points behind the conservatives yet held them off from getting a majority. The polling numbers are currently much slimmer than this. A lot depends on agreements between brexit party and conservatives/ labour libdems and greens. I'm hopeful that BJ and the rabid right wingers can be held off and will be utterly devastated if the conservatives win a majority at the next election.

curlykaren · 05/09/2019 17:58

Bahlindah, yes his speech was truly awful. I wasn't even able to focus on the content as delivery so poor.

AgeLikeWine · 05/09/2019 18:02

I agree, and I’m a Remainer, too.

Being forced to choose between an untrustworthy liar and a Marxist who is unfit to lead a parish council, never mind a G7 country, is an absolute nightmare.

When the election comes, I expect more people to decide Johnson is the lesser of two evils than Corbyn. In a properly functioning democracy, the candidates for PM would be people such as Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper or Jeremy Hunt.

Autumnwindy · 05/09/2019 18:07

I do think he would win election.
There is no one else to win it.

I don't understand this... Nukip etc and tory turning into brexit party.

Brexit is crippling everything, Remainers have been in charge of brexit for 3 years and got us into a deadlocked unprepared state.

Of course the party in power should focus on brexit and once brexit is done... Go back to normal business!

Labour is hemorraging support. People tactically vote for lib dems, but that will split Labour remain vote.

Tory and brexit alliance will win.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 05/09/2019 18:07

At the last election labour were polling over 20 points behind the conservatives

Not by the time the election came around they weren't. Those were the figures when it was called, before Theresa stupidly threw their majority away during a far-too-long 7 week campaign

FatherBuzzCagney · 05/09/2019 18:08

Someone compared the speech to the Ben Swain Newsnight interview in The Thick of It but it's actually worse - he's the PM, ex-Foreign Minister, ex Mayor of London, and ex-journalist and he's less competent at answering journalists' questions than a character in The Thick of It. Twitter is enjoying itself, of course.

To think Boris would win a general election
Autumnwindy · 05/09/2019 18:09

Age.. I think people see corybn as un trustworthy liar as well, who stood against the eu all his political career, never spoke out during election, and now is ok with his party backing remain!!
The great man of principle.

TabbyMumz · 05/09/2019 18:10

I'd vote for him, I just want him to get us through out of Europe and I hate all this delay and dithering.

smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 05/09/2019 18:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bahlindah · 05/09/2019 18:16

Age.. I think people see corybn as un trustworthy liar as well, who stood against the eu all his political career, never spoke out during election, and now is ok with his party backing remain!!
So far as I'm aware, and it's easy to lose track at the moment, Labour aren't backing Remain.

They oppose No Deal. Corbyn wants his chance at securing the unicorn Brexit that voters were promised. He then (reluctantly) will put his deal to a confirmatory referendum. I think he'd rather avoid the referendum but, without it, there's no way he'd keep his party (or any coalition partners') support.

GirlsBlouse17 · 05/09/2019 18:17

I think if there was a GE before 31st October, it would likely be a rerun of the referendum in that those who want to leave the EU still would vote Tory/DUP/Brexit Party and those who hope there is an opportunity to remain will vote for the rest. Much depends on how the votes are diluted across parties rather than being concentrated on the usual two parties.

Bahlindah · 05/09/2019 19:00

Can't believe that, in challenging @Manontry 's accusation that, if I think there is no real difference between the Conservatives and the Brexit Party, then I don't know a whole lot about politics, I forgot the words of Ken Clarke.

Ken Clarke, who first entered the Commons in 1970 and served in the cabinets of both Thatcher and Major, said of the Conservatives on Tuesday 'I don't recognize this [Party]. It's the Brexit Party, rebadged.'

But then perhaps Ken Clarke doesn't have Manontry's deep understanding of politics either.

Tellmetruth4 · 05/09/2019 19:10

Johnson said today he would ‘rather die in a ditch’ than ask for a Brexit extension. Will that happen after he lies on the runway at Heathrow to oppose the new runway? (His last suicide threat).

Was he drunk during that speech?

Tellmetruth4 · 05/09/2019 19:13

The markets go up every time Johnson loses a vote and we may have even tipped into a recession. Even the city can see his clown car full of cultists are killing this country and need to go.

Bahlindah · 05/09/2019 19:18

Was he drunk during that speech?
He should have been cautioned for wasting police time.

megletthesecond · 05/09/2019 19:19

Yanbu.

I'm a lefty remainer. Labour won't win with Corbyn in charge 🙄.

DisorganisedOrganiser · 05/09/2019 19:26

Sadly YANBU. I think he will win and I fear he will win easily. Really hope I’m wrong.

I think lots of the general public are pretty right leaning and pro- Brexit. I think quite a few actually want no deal.

That’s before we even look at how bad the opposition is.

I think he would win by a landslide and then the stories basically have 4 years to go for a hard Brexit and destroy the NHS once they have done that Sad. Really really hope I am wrong.

DisorganisedOrganiser · 05/09/2019 19:27

Tories not stories!

Tellmetruth4 · 05/09/2019 19:27

I’ve been off work this week so have been fortunate to watch the live stream on the Parliament channel. The edited BBC news version of what’s happening is different from what I’ve been seeing. Johnson’s opponents including his own side have been destroying him. Johnson is making Corbyn look like a great statesmen in comparison and I never thought I’d say that about Corbyn as my preferred leader is David Milliband.

timshelthechoice · 05/09/2019 19:30

I'm no Tory but YANBU

Bluntness100 · 05/09/2019 19:36

I don't think this is a given, the vote could be evenly spread based on when it takes place and what's occurring at the time.

Right now he needs an election. The parties are worried he will either win a big majority then pass new legislation to make us to leave with no deal, if they hold it before brexit, or if he achieves a deal and we leave at rhe end of Oct with it, and they have agreed the election shortly after, that he will basically wipe them all out with his huge bounce in popularity.

The safest option is for them to wait till the 18th Oct to agree any date. Because if he comes back from the eu on the 17th with a deal and they have agreed a Nov election he will wipe the floor with them.

And if they do it pre brexit , and he wins big, he could change the legislation. Right now they are trying to work out what's the least damaging and risky prospect.

The fact they won't agree to name it, means they suspect he might win big.

I mean fuck he talked 17 million people into voting for leave. Why wouldn't he win.

Bluntness100 · 05/09/2019 19:41

Johnson is making Corbyn look like a great statesmen in comparison

I have it on in the background and I think that's a bit of wishful thinking then. Sure Corbyns on the attack but I think you'd have to be a proper die hard labour optimist to say he looks like a great statesman. They both look like vicious bullies ripping each other to shreds.

It doesn't matter though, it's what the electorate think. And as said. If he can talk 17 million people into voting to leave, then you've got to ask yourself why he wouldn't be able to get them to vote for him.

If the parties didn't think there was a risk he would win big, they'd give the date. No way round it.

Manontry · 05/09/2019 19:43

Johnson is making Corbyn look like a great statesmen in comparison

I do not think 'great statesman' means what you think it means

Bahlindah · 05/09/2019 20:03

I see Boris is doing well on the campaign trail today.

mobile.twitter.com/davemacladd/status/1169661176105639937

familycourtq · 05/09/2019 20:12

Would be interesting to hear from other MNers what they think is likely to happen in their own seat. Maybe we could work up a chart and make a prediction between us.

Nicky Morgan is my MP. I have never voted Tory. When I moved to this constituency in 2006 we had a Labour MP but she has shifted things a bit. Although I didn't vote for her and I find her party and their policies hateful she does put it an incredible amount of work locally - mostly doing stuff I don't agree with, but still.

On that basis I can see her winning again - as well as the fact the non Tory vote will be split at least two ways.

What this debacle shows more than anything is that we need a proper PR system like almost every other civilised country has.