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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the PM should take proper time off and let someone else lead the country while he's ill

51 replies

jenganinja · 06/04/2020 17:04

Doesn't make sense to me to try to run things from hospital. Surely he should take time off and leave it to Raab until he's better and fit to return

OP posts:
bluebeck · 06/04/2020 17:06

Yes he should leave it to Sir Keir Starmer!!

Seriously - Dominic Raab will have anyone who isn't earning thrown into debtors prison!! Grin

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 06/04/2020 17:09

I dis agree, his the fucking prime minster. In that job it is very much a case of suck it up and carry on

If a paramedic can go to work, risking catching the virus, fear taking it home to the family they have then he can continue being PM- only a special little flower would be taking time off when PM

Original poster
jenganinja · 06/04/2020 17:09

I can't stand Dominic Raab personally but that's who Boris appointed I think, I would have assumed these were the exact circumstances where he should temporarily take over.

OP posts:
screwcovid19 · 06/04/2020 17:12

If a paramedic can go to work, risking catching the virus, fear taking it home to the family they have then he can continue being PM- only a special little flower would be taking time off when PM

I'd assume that paramedic wouldn't be working if he was ill with coronavirus and hospitalised? Indeed, I don't know anyone that would still be working.

That said, I'm not really sure he can take time off unless he's at deaths door.

Dreamersandwishers · 06/04/2020 17:12

I think he needs to rest up and get over this, don’t think it’s a Suck it up situation.
I have a nurse friend who tells me just how horrible it can be so best not try to be a hero.
Or we could have Raab permanently..

Original poster
jenganinja · 06/04/2020 17:15

Exactly Dreamersandwishes His priority right now has to be just to get better. The stress of running a country won't do much for your health. He needs to let someone fit do it for a week or two

OP posts:
CakeAndGin · 06/04/2020 17:15

Well, I think that if anyone is sick enough to require hospitalisation, they should take the break their body desperately needs to heal. However, as already evidenced, if he doesn’t work whilst getting over a deadly virus he’ll be seen as a failure of a PM. There is also the consideration that some people struggle to switch off, even when poorly and in hospital, and it is much better for their anxiety to keep working. I’m not necessarily saying that is the PM’s approach but it is for some people hospitalised and still working (for things other than Covid-19).

sunglasses123 · 06/04/2020 17:18

Pink - its not the same at all and I think you know that! The guy is in hospital!!

He needs to get so rest and allow others to lead. Doing briefings and reading papers from his hospital bed looks like he is scared stiff to give over control.

myohmywhatawonderfulday · 06/04/2020 17:18

Maybe Greek tragedies involving hubris are not so ancient after all.

Eskarina1 · 06/04/2020 17:18

If you're ill enough to be in hospital then it's probably effecting your ability to do a good job and you should rest and get better.

While I don't like Boris, I think it's unfair to compare him to a paramedic working. He did put himself at risk, he did put his pregnant partner at risk. Now he's presumably quite ill and there is no shame in taking a break.

Original poster
jenganinja · 06/04/2020 17:18

Not only is it bad for him though, it's bad for us a country, as I for one would prefer someone fit and well to be running the show just now.

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 06/04/2020 17:29

Definitely, I'm sure working too hard whilst ill has made him worse. He needs to rest and recouperate. No good for morale if anything serious happens.

ViciousJackdaw · 06/04/2020 17:32

Although the thought of Raab is horrific, Johnno does need a rest. Not because he's a 'special flower, but because he's an overweight man in his 50s who's been really quite ill. I suspect his BP is through the roof too. It's absolutely essential that he looks after himself. Not because he's PM, because he's a human being (reportedly).

HappyHammy · 06/04/2020 17:32

Do we have proof that he is not resting.

eddiemairswife · 06/04/2020 17:35

He's probably trying to ape his great hero, who continued to carry on even after two strokes. But the public didn't know about those.

Michelleoftheresistance · 06/04/2020 17:36

I gave up watching the briefing as it was all the journalists were obsessed with. Fairly sure he and govt and civil service have it in hand, the policies and risk assessments around this will be massive.

HeyPizza · 06/04/2020 17:41

He shouldn't be working. What if he starts to get delirious with his illness, and isn't able to fully understand information or make appropriate decisions? (And no jokes about how that might be his usual state of affairs ....)

For everyone else, they would be off sick if they were in hospital - he's got one of the most important jobs in the country, it's not something anyone should be messing around with.

Original poster
jenganinja · 06/04/2020 17:46

I agree HeyPizza I think it's actually stressful for the public to have the PM trying to run things from a hospital bed when he's got a serious illness, at a time like this when we need strong leadership.

OP posts:
HappyHammy · 06/04/2020 17:46

Raab has said they havent spoken since Saturday so guess he is resting and Raab is acting on his behalf which is his job.

CatBatCat · 06/04/2020 17:47

He can't afford to live on SSP.

cremuel · 06/04/2020 17:53

Of Course he should be resting, but this is the defining event of our generation and he doesn’t want to be on the sidelines. He needs to be the centre of attention. I doubt he’ll be keen to sit back and take it easy and let other people run the show.

Peregrina · 06/04/2020 17:54

I am glad that people agree, that if he's in hospital he should be resting. Not attempting to work.

PleaseStopCrying · 06/04/2020 17:57

I am glad that people agree, that if he's in hospital he should be resting. Not attempting to work.

Its just a pity those in his team don't seem to share this viewpoint.

It's simple surely? If you are in hospital, especially during current circumstances where admissions are lower, you shouldn't be working no matter what job you have.

Selfsettling3 · 06/04/2020 18:02

It sounds like Raab is in charge or at least I hope someone is and they are worried people will panic is they say Boris is too ill to work. Can’t we find Rory Steward and put him in charge. I suspect he would do a better job.

Peregrina · 06/04/2020 18:05

I don't understand how anyone ill enough to be in hospital with it, can work.

I once had flu and was wiped out by it, and any idea of doing anything beyond getting up to go to the loo or taking the prescribed medicine was beyond me, and I wasn't even bad enough to go to hospital.