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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

130 replies

chomalungma · 26/09/2019 07:50

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

OP posts:
Original poster
chomalungma · 26/09/2019 17:28

Untechnically it has all being a shameful abrogation of responsibilityby all of them

It's the Conservative party who has been in charge. It is the party which has not worked with other parties. It has decided the red lines.
It was the one that brought back the same deal 3 times.

So the other parties bare no responsibility for the mess at the moment.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 26/09/2019 17:30

!!!!

As is the stance of many in parliament at the moment. Which was my point...

I wasn't trying to 'pick you up' on anything, I just see it differently. Few rights and wrongds in subjective opinions.

PerkingFaintly · 26/09/2019 17:30

I've transcribed what Sherriff said (from the clip above).

Sherriff: Mr Speaker, I genuinely do not seek to stifle robust debate, but this evening, the Prime Minister has continually used pejorative language to describe an Act of Parliament passed by this House. And I’m sure that you would agree, Mr Speaker, that we should not resort to using offensive, dangerous or inflammatory language for legislation that we do not like.

And we stand here, Mr Speaker, under the shield of our departed friend, with many of us in this place subject to death threats and abuse every single day and let me tell the Prime Minister that they often quote his words: “Surrender Act”, “betrayal”, “traitor”. And I for one am sick of it. We must moderate our language and it has to come from the Prime Minister first.

So I would be interested in hearing his opinion. He should be absolutely ashamed of himself.

PerkingFaintly · 26/09/2019 17:31

Does anyone on this thread actually disagree with her?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 26/09/2019 17:32

OK!!

With that I am out of here. I can't find a polite way to respond

PerkingFaintly · 26/09/2019 17:33

She made it clear that ALL MPs should moderate their language, and ALL should not resort to offensive, dangerous or inflammatory language, while using the Prime Minister – first among equals – as the example.

Original poster
chomalungma · 26/09/2019 17:34

've transcribed what Sherriff said (from the clip above

Here's Hansard

hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-09-25/debates/AD2A07E5-9741-4EBA-997A-97776F80AA38/PrimeMinisterSUpdate

Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)

I genuinely do not seek to stifle robust debate, but this evening the Prime Minister has continually used pejorative language to describe an Act of Parliament that was passed by this House. I am sure you would agree, Mr Speaker, that we should not resort to the use of offensive, dangerous or inflammatory language about legislation that we do not like.

We stand here, Mr Speaker, under the shield of our departed friend. Many of us in this place are subject to death threats and abuse every single day. Let me tell the Prime Minister that they often quote his words—surrender Act, betrayal, traitor—and I, for one, am sick of it. We must moderate our language, and that has to come from the Prime Minister first, so I should be interested in hearing his opinion. He should be absolutely ashamed of himself. [Applause.]

The Prime Minister

I have to say that I have never heard such humbug in all my life. [Hon. Members: “ Shame!”] The reality is that this is a Bill—[Interruption.] This is a Bill—[Interruption.]

OP posts:
PerkingFaintly · 26/09/2019 17:34

This was Johnson's direct response to those words.

Johnson: I have to say Mr Speaker, I have never heard such humbug in all my life.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 26/09/2019 17:37

Remain MPs are stoking up this fear by refusing to accept the UK voted to leave the EU.
Arguments are going to get more and more heated until everyone finally respects the result of the referendum.

PerkingFaintly · 26/09/2019 17:41

Thanks for the Hansard, chomalungma – could have saved myself the work.

I'm glad I watched the clip as well, though. Sherriff is clearly NOT "just politicking". Her voice is almost breaking talking about the death threats.

Hardly surprising. While I was googling to check spelling of Sherriff's name, the first story that came up was this: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-47266406

Swastikas have been left at her constituency office three times, but the CPS said they couldn't prosecute.

I'm a bit surprised I'm only just learning this now and didn't see a huge thread on MN about it. Perhaps there was one I missed. Or perhaps it just didn't take anyone's interest.

Original poster
chomalungma · 26/09/2019 17:41

Remain MPs are stoking up this fear by refusing to accept the UK voted to leave the EU

There is a whole plethora of MPs whose views range from Hard Leave to Remain.

If you were an MP who thinks that we need to Leave but thinks that No Deal, or a deal negotiated by Johnson is bad for the country, what would you do?

Go with the bad deal, or hold out and see if we can get a deal negotiated by people with a different mindset?

I suspect that many of the MPs would be happy with the current WA, even with the backstop.

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ilovesooty · 26/09/2019 17:46

@Walkingdeadfangirl

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/26/boris-johnson-refuses-to-apologise-for-language-about-jo-cox

Your comments are straight out of the Dominic Cummings handbook.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 26/09/2019 17:57

If you were an MP who thinks that we need to Leave but thinks that No Deal, or a deal negotiated by Johnson is bad for the country, what would you do?
I would feel stupid that I decided to ask the country what to do in the first place. I would feel stupid that I told everyone I would enact the result of the referendum. I would feel stupid that I voted for A50. I would feel stupid that I didn't vote for TMs WA or angry at the MPs who didn't vote for it. I would make sure the country was as ready for leaving as possible and make a public commitment to support any deal Boris gets.

What I wouldn't do is throw my toys out of the pram, stick two fingers up at the 17.4 million people who won the vote and then complain about my feelings when they get angry.

HappyHammy · 26/09/2019 18:00

Curious, I did start to watch A N but couldn't listen to it any more so turned it off. the morning programmes are just as argumentative. I started watching Sky news instead. how did it get to be so bad, why cant they control their tempers, perhaps now they can all understand how the public feel.

Original poster
chomalungma · 26/09/2019 20:51

What I wouldn't do is throw my toys out of the pram, stick two fingers up at the 17.4 million people who won the vote and then complain about my feelings when they get angry

There are many Tory MPs who voted AGAINST the withdrawal agreement because they did not agree with part of it and are now asking for Labour MPs to vote for the deal that Boris negotiates or accept No deal - even if those MPs might not agree that it is best for the country.

Those Tory MPs ignored the wishes of 17.4 million people.

And there are many of those 17.4 million who want a range of Leave options.

I would hope that MPs stick up for what they think is best for their constituents, whilst respecting the vote, and should not be exposed to death threats from people.

OP posts:
Original poster
chomalungma · 26/09/2019 20:52

I would make sure the country was as ready for leaving as possible and make a public commitment to support any deal Boris gets

Why should MPs support Boris' deal when he did not support Theresa May's deal?

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Trewser · 27/09/2019 07:02

I was thinking about this last night. I think if I'd had Stormzy getting to number one yelling Fuck Boris, plus slowthai on the BBC, wearing a tshirt saying the same and carrying an effigy of my severed head, I'd probably think someone moaning that I'd said "surrender" was humbug too.

PerkingFaintly · 27/09/2019 11:23

So do you disagree with Sherriff's words, quoted above, Trewser?

Or do you agree with them?

Because that's what Johnson said "Humbug" to.

Trewser · 27/09/2019 11:27

I thought it was a low blow! But I am sick of the lot of them tbf.

JacquesHammer · 27/09/2019 11:30

What I wouldn't do is throw my toys out of the pram, stick two fingers up at the 17.4 million people who won the vote and then complain about my feelings when they get angry

Isn’t it a good job that isn’t what’s happening then.

Clavinova · 27/09/2019 11:39

"Let me tell the Prime Minister that they often quote his words—surrender Act, betrayal, traitor"

In what context did Boris Johnson use the word, "traitor" ?

MrsBethel · 27/09/2019 11:40

Ha ha, fair point Trewser.

I'm no fan of the 'surrender' sloganeering, etc - clearly a deliberate plan from Cummings... I'm sure they have refined a list of buzzwords to drop in at every opportunity.
But I agree, the rhetoric from Labour has been ridiculous. A complete own goal.

No one seems to have thought through what the best response to all this 'surrender stuff should be.

What we have is cynical, almost psychopathic, cunning and strategy from Boris' lot, and the response isn't planned at all. It's often simply an emotional reaction, or whatever point-scoring response appears to be nearest at hand. There's no strategy. No intelligence. It's just knee-jerk stuff. No thought to how it will be received by the public. It's like the referendum campaign all over again! I voted remain, but I did so in spite of the remain campaign. How disjointed and repellent was that remain campaign! It was the worst campaign I have ever witnessed anywhere.

So rather than Boris being held to account for the unlawful prorogation, or for neglecting to do any actual negotiating, or for myriad other failings...
the political conversation has switched to shouty people like Jess Philips whinging about 'surrender'... when she once said she would knife Corbyn!
Boris and Cummings must not be able to believe their luck!

TottieandMarchpane · 27/09/2019 11:46

Can we elect you Mumsnet envoy to Westminster please @MrsBethel ?

MarshaBradyo · 27/09/2019 11:51

Yep agree with that MrsB

notacooldad · 27/09/2019 11:51

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
Of course it was deliberate. Behind the buffon image is someone very calculating and conniving and knows exactly what they are doing and why..