To think that a personality cult has developed around Boris Johnson?

[Applejaxx]

I know this sounds completley ridiculous but have a quick look around social media and in particular Twitter, and you will see a disturbing number of people with lots of union flags in their twitter handle name who effectively think that the sun shines out of his arse, that he can do no wrong and that any justifiable criticism of his or his governments handling of the current crisis is part of a massive 'leftie' conspiracy against him.

They are terrified of 'lefties's and 'liberals' and think all of the media are out to get Boris and his government, it is just bat shit. Its not just Twitter either, I had to unfriend someone on Facebook after they told me that I should 'show Boris some fucking respect' a few weeks ago. This was after I'd shared something criticising his handling of the pandemic. Thankfully it was somone I don't really know that well and never have to see again, but still!

If im honest it all a bit disturbing. Its reminscent of a personality cult IMO, 'how dare you disrespect our glorious leader'.

Well, it would have to be a personality cult, wouldn't it, as he doesn't appear to have any actual policies, so we're left with mendacity, self-promotion and pseudo-genial bluster?

And you don't think the song...
Oh Jeremy Corbyn .... Was cultish.
Boris has the it factor.
Sorry you don't like it.

100%. I think with him, though, there’s always been this weird fascination with him from a lot of people. Bojo the silly, scruffy haired, lovable buffoon. It’s weird.

And you don't think the song...
Oh Jeremy Corbyn .... Was cultish.
Boris has the it factor.
Sorry you don't like it.

That's exactly the kind of comment these people would post! Any criticism comes back to Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn or lefties and liberals, even though I doubt they actually know what lefties and liberals are. The lack of critical thinking and ability to have a proper debate is disturbing.

JC isn't the leader of the Labour party anymore BTW.

It hasn't developed. He's carefully cultivated it for years with the sole motive being self advancement.

As others said, this is a finely cultivated personality he's created over many years. He's played the public like a fiddle, very carefully hiding his true, clever and narcissistic, personality with this funny buffoon act. Even though he's really shown his true colours since his Brexit campaign and subsequent leadership coup, the 'funny posho, could be a right laugh down the pub' idea of him has stuck. I'd be impressed if I wasn't so disgusted by him.

He hid in a fridge. God knows how people like him. Glad he recovered from the ‘rona though. Wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

I think he'll be widely adored after this - the man who got us through the virus. Wasn't Churchill a bit of a prick for example?

I try not to let my personal feelings about him get in the way, but quite honestly I've never seen a poltician be so lauded and I live in a former red wall constituency where Tony Blair was considered almost god like for a while but it was nothing like this.

The sad thing is he doesn't give a toss about these people and would throw them under a bus tomorrow if he had to. Point that out to them though and your just another 'leftie' and will no doubt get a completley irrelevent comment about Brexit thrown at you on top of it!

Wasn't Churchill a bit of a prick for example?

Understatement of the century....

He has an ego the size of Europe! He has cultivated it with his buffoonery and jovial remarks. He lacks substance and clearly couldn't and cannot lead us effectively through this crisis.
Personality Cult? Anybody joining such a perverse group would follow any nut job - Trump would be their style if they lived in the US.

think he'll be widely adored after this - the man who got us through the virus. Wasn't Churchill a bit of a prick for example?

I agree, but he didn't actually get us through the virus. He spouted off about social distancing, but didn't practice what he preached and ended up nearly dying as a result.

And yes, Churchill was an alcoholic and probably a bit of a racist as well. But point that out and you are an unpatritoic and British leftie liberal so...

You can loathe Johnson without being a supporter of Corbyn. You can be a leftie without being a supporter of Corbyn. Anyway Corbyn is yesterday's news and if nobody even mentioned him again that would be ok with this leftie.

I too am surprised by the love that Johnson seems to engender. It doesn't make any sense. He's ugly outside and inside. Just watch the footage of him when Eddie Mair lays out the Darius Guppy thing. Just analyse his vapid semi-sentences and see what verifiable content or thoughtful ideas they contain. He's utterly devoid of ability. And quite a cunt to boot.

Got it in one, ilovesooty

Trump would be their style if they lived in the US.

Indeed many of them also love Trump and there is also a massive media conspiracy against him apparently . They hate every other world leader though because they are mostly 'leftie liberals'

Absolutely. The number of posts on mn, during the leadership race and the election, in which people claimed he was the man for the job because he made them laugh was frightening.

So what about the lies, and manipulation and so on? And what about his policies?

Oh no, nothing like that 'he makes me laugh'; just what you want in a pm.

I used to know someone who worked with him and as far as I could gather he is great company and incredibly charming and witty. But at the same time completely driven by what is best for Boris.

It was the same with Farage with his 'man of the people', 'the sort of good old bloke to stand you pint down the pub' image.

Amazing what people will let themselves believe.

He is the only political leader who deliberately messes his hair up before going on TV.

The "Good Old Boris" thing seems to work with some folk, and so they will continue to use it.

reaction.life/jeremy-vine-my-boris-story/

From Jeremy Vine - an account of just how well the act has been performed.

So someone on Facebook didn’t agree with your post slagging Boris? It’s ok to have different views and just because they have a different view from you doesn’t mean they’re involved in a cult.

We seem to have evolved into an intolerant society where alternate views are dismissed out of hand. Personally I see the Union Jack flags on twitter as a show of solidarity, I have not associated the flag with far-right since, well, Geri Haliwell pinched it back. Perhaps it’s simply a matter of perception?

I am so frustrated with this 'he makes me laugh' thing. Both Johnson and Farage just lie, openly, without any consistency, sometimes they don't even need to. But so long as you can imagine being at a party with them it's all...forgiveable? All right?

It is so strange.

I think this piece in the New York Times is a pretty accurate but depressing summary of the British public and our relationship with Boris Johnson

www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/opinion/coronavirus-boris-johnson.html

YABU.
Surely you must realize that not everyone likes the same things/people?
Some people think he's great, some can't stand him.
And perhaps some aren't bothered either way.

So someone on Facebook didn’t agree with your post slagging Boris?

But I wasn't 'slagging' Boris. And quite frankly even if I was no one is exempt from criticism especially not politicians who should always be held to account when they fuck up, which IMO he has done.

I don’t actually mind Boris tbh, I don’t vote conservative but I think his done the best he can in a crisis like this where nobody has ever had to deal with it before. In this crisis I would take him over what would of been Corbyn any day. As for America them poor bastards have trump

Its reminscent of a personality cult IMO, 'how dare you disrespect our glorious leader to be fair when he was ill with Covid 19 some truly disgusting comments were made on social media even on here wishing him dead. Nobody should be disrespected like that

Also all politicians do what is best for them....none of them do stuff because it makes them warm and fuzzy inside