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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

626 replies

Applejaxx · 17/04/2020 14:38

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'.

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Original poster
Applejaxx · 17/04/2020 15:23

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

Yes, and those comments were disgusting however all of this began before he became ill himself.

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Beebie2 · 17/04/2020 15:24

I just find it bizarre that they both hate the ‘government’ but love Boris. They don’t equate government policy with him, despite him being the PM. It’s just odd. (And makes him incredibly clever/ terrifying) His baffoon-ery is a very clever act.

MouthBreathingRage · 17/04/2020 15:27

@P1nkHeartLovesCake, in what way do you think Johnson has 'done the best he can'? He ignored how other countries were going into instant lockdown for his own 'herd immunity' idea, went and shook hands with sick people, inevitably caught the illness himself due to his need for publicity over common bloody sense, and now will be out of action as our leader for weeks. His handpicked government is making a shitshow of the whole thing in his stead. Genuinely, what do you think hes done well in all this?

1555CC · 17/04/2020 15:33

With Boris, I don't think cult is quite the right word. But it is only one letter away from being the right word.

Original poster
Applejaxx · 17/04/2020 15:38

I just find it bizarre that they both hate the ‘government’ but love Boris. They don’t equate government policy with him, despite him being the PM. It’s just odd. (And makes him incredibly clever/ terrifying) His baffoon-ery is a very clever act.

Well to be honest I think most of them just aren't very intelligent. Over the past few days they have been ranting at Priti Patel to 'shut the borders' whilst also asking her what she's doing about 'illegal immigrants' in the channel. They don't seem to realise that she is part of the cabinet and that it was Boris who appointed her in the first place!

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Beebie2 · 17/04/2020 15:44

I don’t think he has done his ‘best’ I think when you look at PMs like Jacinda Ardent and the explanation to the German people RE: Covid transmission by Angela Merkel - that version of ‘best’ comes nowhere close.

I refuse to say ‘well it’s better than Trump’. Just because it could be worse, doesn’t make it ok.

Pumpkinpie1 · 17/04/2020 15:46

I think that some Influential people have vested interests in promoting Boris way past his capabilities

brendansbuddy · 17/04/2020 15:51

I think it's dangerous. The whole use of 'Boris' (we didn't call them 'Theresa' or 'Tony') may seem trivial but it sounds chummy, harmless, friendly. It makes him seem far more benign than he is. He's very right-wing and ambitious and yet the bumbling buffoon act makes a lot of people talk of him fondly.

Alsohuman · 17/04/2020 15:55

I wonder how long it will take before the automatic response by the right to any criticism of any aspect of Toryism “But what about Corbyn?” finally stops. Months? Years? Decades? Forever?

CheerfulBunny · 17/04/2020 15:58

I'm really curious about what these people who adore him have to say about how he conducts his private life (having children with many different women and refusing to confirm or acknowledge them) when they are often the same people who condemn similar behaviour in us 'proles' in the Daily Mail. Not saying its right or wrong, I just find it really bizarre. A couple of decades ago it would've been unthinkable for a Prime Minister to be living in No 10 with a pregnant girlfriend. Society has changed though, mostly for the better.

SwedishEdith · 17/04/2020 15:58

Completely cultivated. And his girlfriend was the head on comms at Tory HQ. What do you think all those awful Instagram photos on her account are for?

Beebie2 · 17/04/2020 16:00

I don’t think it will stop for a long time. They’re still blaming the past labour government for things!

“The whole use of 'Boris' (we didn't call them 'Theresa' or 'Tony') may seem trivial but it sounds chummy, harmless, friendly.” I completely agree;

Boris/ BJ is totally inappropriate. He’s not anyone’s ‘pal’ like he wants people to think. He’s in it for his own gains, and the gains of those who benefit him.

Original poster
Applejaxx · 17/04/2020 16:00

Indeed it is dangerous. Many of them have photos of Boris either as their cover photo or their actual profile picture. They have have 'Love Boris' or '#Boris' written in their bio. Then you scroll through the feed and its all right wind conspiracies about the media and 'lefties' and a general terror that Covid-19 will stop Brexit happening on time(which is also a conspiracy). Yes, they are more scared about Covid-19 stopping their beloved Brexit happening than it killing somone that they love.

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Smurfy23 · 17/04/2020 16:02

Yanbu

I also loathe the way he is referred to just by his first name. Its part of this persona he has developed. We dont know him. We arent friends with him. Lets call him by his full name like we do all other politicians.

Original poster
Applejaxx · 17/04/2020 16:06

They’re still blaming the past labour government for things!

I know, and yet Labour haven't been in power for ten years! Who do they think has been running the country in that time?

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JustinMyJustin · 17/04/2020 16:09

YANBU op.

He’s a selfish, malevolent, self serving arsehole without any moral compass what so ever. We are on track to have the highest death toll in Europe because of his sheer ineptitude and yet people still fawn over him.

I genuinely despair of this countrySad

BadLad · 17/04/2020 16:10

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

I know you're determined not to let him be part of the conversation, but many people think that about Corbyn. Now you've gone as far as to say "any politician", the fact that he is no longer Labour leader doesn't mean he isn't relevant.

Your words here:

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

are exactly how I see Momentum's attitude towards Corbyn since 2015.

I get that whataboutery is a pain, but you seem as if you're trying to paint this as unique to Johnson / right-wingers.

JustinMyJustin · 17/04/2020 16:11

@Applejaxx There is no arguing with people who continue to blame labour for the current shit show in this country. You can’t argue with that level of stupidity!

JustinMyJustin · 17/04/2020 16:13

@BadLad The difference is that Corbyn is a decent man who works hard on a personal level to make a positive difference to the lives of others. The only thing Johnson has ever worked hard at is advancing his own power for the sake of wanting it!

Original poster
Applejaxx · 17/04/2020 16:13

BadLad Corbyn is gone, ffs please get over it and look at the issue at hand.

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Surroundedbyeediotics · 17/04/2020 16:15

Yeah it’s nothing like the Cult of Corbyn 🙄

People are still being abused on social media by those clowns. THey should be arrested. Maniacs.

Alsohuman · 17/04/2020 16:15

I rest my bloody case. They just can’t stop, can they?

Mittens030869 · 17/04/2020 16:17

It's how it was in the past with Thatcher, she had very vociferous supporters back in the day. And also with Tony Blair, very similar as a matter of fact. It changed after they had been in power for a few years.

Boris has the sympathy vote at the moment, having come through intensive care, but people will start to turn against him once the lockdown has gone on for too long and as more people die of COVID-19. Especially as Keir Starmar will regularly demonstrates holes in his arguments at PM's questions. He is after all an experienced barrister.

BadLad · 17/04/2020 16:19

BadLad Corbyn is gone, ffs please get over it and look at the issue at hand.

If the topic of the thread was Corona virus, then I agree.

But your thread isn't about that. It's about OTT lauding and cult-like worshipping of politicians. Why is it correct to say that it happens to Johnson, but "lacking in critical thinking skills" to say it happens to Corbyn?

You said you'd never seen it to such an extent. That sounds like you've never heard anything Momentum have ever said about Corbyn.