Boris Johnson dismisses female MPs fears about death threats as humbug.

[chomalungma]

AIBU to think this is not what a PM should be doing.

Paula Sheriff asked him to tone down his language. The tempers in the debate are stoking the flames and the PM's use of language such as 'surrender' are adding to it.

She then explains the death threats she and other MPs on all sides have been getting . The abuse.

His reply. 'Humbug'.

If you still want to support Johnson after all this, ask yourself if you support such a response

We do need to get Brexit done.
Maybe Boris was referring to Jo's constituency which voted Leave.

Too many MP's are following their own agenda. I agree though with Brendan Cox that both sides need to temper their rhetoric.

If BJ can't get a deal through Parliament (which looks impossible atm) we need a GE sooner rather than later.

They were bringing up that they are getting death threats including their children. Having just finished Ben Elton's Identity Crisis I have a very new understanding of social media and its trolls, death threats etc.

I agree with the book's internal logic - get off your machine, go talk to a person in the street! You'll find a completely different universe out there...

The thing is, he's deploying tactics seen throughout history by power hungry despots in their search for ultimate glory. We all thought it couldn't happen here:

First, you lie and repeat the lie until it becomes the truth, using emotive language aimed at promoting division. Second, you set the people against one another. Last, you conquer, having won a 'moral' victory in a war that never existed.

I think it's deliberate. He's trying to stir up the electorate, paint the other side as enemies of the people and him as the champion. It's working, as demonstrated already on this thread.

And Parliament are falling into his trap by their behaviour.
You'd think they'd have more sense.

Curious
Boris did not ask for an extra 4 days that is one of the reasons he lost in the SC. He shut down Parliament completely instead of allowing it to go into recess.

Recess is not the same as prorogation. During the conference recess Committee business carries on, questions can be put to Ministers, the HoL can decide to sit, importantly bills are not lost.

Furthermore MP’s choose the length of the recess: MP’s have no say in the timing and length of a prorogation.

Nobody would have gone to the SC over 4 days.

Not just him. JRM was slouching next to him laughing his head off. Who is responsible for allowing these blatantly, obviously unfit people near parliament? There needs to be a complete revamp of the MP selection processes because they (and others) should not be sitting there.

The language is shocking and divisive. But not sure many in MN can cast stones - like the pp who said Boris should be shot. There's a voice of reason and calm discussion right there!

A family member is married to an MP. She and her children have received abuse and threats because of his job.
For Boris Johnson to dismiss those very real threats as 'humbug' is deeply insulting.

here is no ‘getting in with Brexit’ as we didn’t vote for something, we voted against something. But it has happened. Harping on about what was or was not meant, intended, known 3 years ago is no use to anyone right now!

The vote was to leave the EU but no one voted how. No, they didn't. Because that's what MPs, parliament, the EU etc are paid to do! You don't hire a painter then tell him how to do his job... you agree what needs doing (broad brush strokes, if you will) and let him, the expert, sort out the details!

He is trying every dirty trick to shut down debate, including painting MPs as the enemy when they are the ones trying to protect the country and it’s people. As is every other MP, party, Spin Doctor etc etc.

It’s sickening. Absolutely!

Calm discussion is in woefully short supply everywhere.

Hopefully the post about shooting will be pulled.

Boris shouldn't be shot, but people have been sent to the Tower for less.

No, they didn't. Because that's what MPs, parliament, the EU etc are paid to do! You don't hire a painter then tell him how to do his job... you agree what needs doing (broad brush strokes, if you will) and let him, the expert, sort out the details!

That’s literally my point. That’s what MPs are trying to do and they are getting threats for doing it. There are alternatives to hard Brexit and no deal but they haven’t been discussed since before the vote (when it was discussed as pretty much the way we’d go should we vote to leave).

Brendan Cox had a point.

But beware that he's forever searching for a way to repair his reputation from being a sex pest and physically assaulting women. I feel a bit sick whenever I see him employing the name of his wife for that purpose.

Whatafustercluck you are so, so right. It fucking terrifies me. Why can't people see him for what he is? He's found an easy narrative in a deeply complex situation and he's going to bang bang bang on with it, demonising those who are actually trying to deal with the complexity, and he doesn't care. He doesn't care what he breaks in his pursuit of power. The consequences, when this has happened in other countries, are severe.

Recess is not the same as prorogation. Oh, I did understand it @ChazsBrilliantAttitude I was just trying to point out that the language used to describe it and the reality of the difference was out of proportion. Effectively his prorogation added 4 days to the usual recess, but history will have him having closed parliament for 5 weeks!

Had the common speechifying been as you (so beautifully) explained nobody would have had any issue with the law court decision etc. Joe Public would have more likely agreed most unanimously that he was a prat! But the whipping up of high emotions on either side doesn't happen with calm explanation - it eeds off headlines, emotive language.. and yes... hate speeches.

It is the language, the heat behind speaches, the emotional obfuscation. It needs to stop. They ALL need to do their jobs.

And we will now get to see Supremo Bercow in action again, I am assuming. At least he will be a little quieter!

Jo Cox was murdered in the run up to the Referendum by a far right terrorist who, as he murdered her, said “This is for Britain”, “keep Britain independent”, and “Britain first”. It was entirely appropriate to mention her in the context of other - particularly female - MPs being subject to death threats.
I felt Brendan Cox on the radio this morning went too far in his efforts to be even handed, though I understand why. The overwhelming use of violent and foul language, death threats and accusation of being traitors and collaborators comes from one side only.
I was at a demo in Whitehall a couple of weeks ago. Thousands of peaceful protestors (I saw only about 10 or so silly kids amongst us with bandannas over their faces who might have liked a fight), all ages and backgrounds, were sandwiched between two groups of Tommy Robinson football type hooligans and far right activists who were having running battles with riot police, hurling barricades at police lines, setting off flares and using violent and abusive language towards anyone they suspected of being a remainer. These two groups consisted of only 100- 150 people, but they tied huge numbers of police up all afternoon. It was frightening and sickening to see. This is the sort of behaviour that is being encouraged by our current Prime Minister and his supporters. It's shameful.

@Smelborp I think we agreeing and yet disagreeing about the same point.

I do NOT think they are doing their jobs. I think they are doing everything to avoid doing their job.

There are alternatives to hard Brexit and no deal but they haven’t been discussed since before the vote (when it was discussed as pretty much the way we’d go should we vote to leave). What was that? Was that what the EU said no to? How many revisions, back tracks and U-turns ago was that? It was obviously before they all painted themselves nto a corner (to continue an analogy). The prosepct of leaving was very different from the reality - which almost all through would never be voted for!

We are seeing an upsurge of more extreme people / views gaining power. Part of this is reflected in who we are choosing to run democracies. It is a pendulum swing and it is very dangerous.

I totally understand the tribalism argument. However I would just like to reel that back. Boris is where he is and acting how he wishes because it suits him. And because he can.

He is dangerous. He is the one, who caused this situation. Had he come out as remain, the country would have voted remain precisely because he is a populist misogynistic narcissist, who is causing this. He is creating an extremist party and throwing it the centrists. He really couldn’t give a shit about Brexit.

I voted remain as many mumsnetters did. I would have been ok with a centrist remain. Because that’s would reflect what the country voted for with such a knife edge result.

Boris doesn’t care about the effect his words have on MPs and their families. He has police protection. Other MPs don’t. If anything, telling him about the death threats is inciting him to continue in the same vein because he has decided that the general public is his only escape and they will be the ones to silence parliament where he cannot.

Why would anyone want to listen to Brendan Cox, a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Harvard as well as other inappropriate behaviour while working for Save the Children?

"In a statement, Save the Children said that Cox had been suspended and a disciplinary procedure begun after allegations in 2015, but Cox resigned before it could be completed."
He wouldn't even stay and face the music. Says quite a lot about him really. He's not fit to comment on the verbal sparring in parliament.

I do think it is utterly appalling that any MP would receive death threats for their views and political stance.

@Stressedout10
"Johnson should be taken out back and shot just like any other rabid animal"
What you have stated is far worse than anything Boris Johnson said. All you have shown is how hate-filled you are and that you are inarticulate in not being able to formulate an argument to support your view.

Boris is where he is and acting how he wishes because it suits him. And because he can.

Of course he is. He would, wouldn’t he? Why allow this to become about personalities, though, when we’re in such a complex and dangerous style of impasse?

He is the one, who caused this situation. I think you are giving him far too much power there! OK, Cameron has said that, but he is covering his own arse as the tone deaf twat who started this!

ANYONE as today's PM would do as he is doing. OK, their aim may be different, but the tactics are the same on all sides. Pointing out that he has protection and other MPs don't? Why? That is ALWAYS the case, it is not just him, not just now. That is just more of the emotional loading...

Absoluteyly @TottieandMarchpane

Boris Johnson has 24 hour police protection, whereas these MPs have none. It must be scary for them.

But then, expecting him to do empathy, well that's just not going to happen. Really we need a PM who can at least try to bring the country together. Because all this 'getting Brexit done' ignores what the country will be like afterwards. Peoples feelings won't go away. In fact with people dying from medicine shortages the outrage would get worse.

State of not style of

Well said, @mummyoflittledragon, dangerous populism