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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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'.

OP posts:
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JackChaffinch · 17/04/2020 22:08

Some people love a jackboot and tugging their forelock. Boris Johnson's decisions are killing hundreds of British people every day. You can tell his government thinks the British people are morons by their "flags, lies and repetitive slogans" afternoon briefings. They even get their pet poodle journos to ask the same question we're all sick of so we atop caring about the answer and just want them to stop asking it. AS IF Laura Kuenssberg is challenging the government. It's all a bloody pantomime. And anybody who thinks "Boris has been our rock throughout this or other such bollocks is beyond reason. Don't waste your energy.

starlightgazers · 17/04/2020 22:13

As for ppe, he failed several times to answer the offer to be part of the EU wode buying group for ventilators and pps

Exactly. Yes - there's a shortage now, but there wasn't then.

And as for Taiwan - yes, they used methods that may may seem 'right wing' over here. Worked though, didn't it.

NiteFlights · 17/04/2020 22:17

London twice voted for Boris Johnson as London Mayor - are you saying people living in London are thick?

Well, it stands to reason that some of them must be. Unless you think everyone who lives in London is intelligent?

However, he was not as well known to the public when he was elected Mayor. Some voters no doubt thought he would be a good Mayor, some were (understandably) dubious about Ken Livingstone/Labour, some probably fancied a change, some voters will vote Conservative no matter what. There will be some who voted for him because they found him funny and amusing and now shudder at the memory.

And then there are those (maybe some of them even read the Spectator and/or watch HIGNFY) who have seen everything he’s done, his offensiveness and arrogance, his treachery over Brexit, and thought ‘yes, he’s the man I want as PM!’ Not indicative of tremendous discernment.

Clavinova · 17/04/2020 22:18

StoneofDestiny

Not sure why you thought a man on his third wife was better suited as a prime minister. I see the Labour Party have passed over yet two more female candidates for Party Leader.

mummmy2017 · 17/04/2020 22:18

We tried nice, the EU sent him home with nothing.
We tried nice lady. She didn't last.
So Boris won because he was what was wanted and needed to push Brexit through.
Not one knew this was happening, Boris is not medically trained, he is following what was though best, by those that understand more than he does. But your not focusing on those people, because Boris makes a better target.

koshkatt · 17/04/2020 22:21

However, he was not as well known to the public when he was elected Mayor
He was very well known.

I see the Labour Party have passed over yet two more female candidates for Party Leader
Thank god that they did as those two were batshit crazy and believed that humans can change sex.

Peregrina · 17/04/2020 22:22

As far as we know, Blair hadn't made single mothers out of any women. Johnson probably has and at the moment, since marriages have been stalled because of the lockdown, there will be probably
be another unmarried mother soon, courtesy of his actions. The bit about unreliable fathers is also true, even if the rest of the statement doesn't apply in that case.

So maybe, he should just keep his trap shut?

Angliski · 17/04/2020 22:24

And he will now sit it all comfortably out in his second home in a nice, relaxing convalescence and come out smelling of leadership roses.

starlightgazers · 17/04/2020 22:25

Not one knew this was happening

No, except they did. Lots of people knew this was happening way before anything was actually done about it. What bit of that do you not get?

Clavinova · 17/04/2020 22:26

Thank god that they did as those two were batshit crazy and believed that humans can change sex.

Oh dear - they are both in Labour's Shadow Cabinet. Grin

starlightgazers · 17/04/2020 22:27

But your not focusing on those people, because Boris makes a better target

Nope - because Boris and Co chose them as suitably qualified experts, and failed to apply any critical thinking or judgement of his own, no doubt because he knew he'd then be able to scapegoat them for it if it all went tits up. That's no 'leader'.

NiteFlights · 17/04/2020 22:29

However, he was not as well known to the public when he was elected Mayor

He was very well known.

He was well known, but not anywhere near as well known as he is now. For example I don’t think many people except maybe Private Eye readers knew the Darius Guppy story. Most people probably knew very little about his private life - which at the time was less lurid than it is now.

His time as Mayor spotlighted many of his inadequacies.

I see the Labour Party have passed over yet two more female candidates for Party Leader

Thank god that they did as those two were batshit crazy and believed that humans can change sex.

We agree on something at least, koshkatt Smile

Asthenia · 17/04/2020 22:34

Totally agree OP. Find it bizarre that Corbyn supporters are called cultists but my God...the way people ride out for Boris chills me to the bone. I used to think, my god they can’t know all the things he’s said/done or about some of his offensive views but then it occurred to me that that’s exactly what people like about him. He “tells it how it is” etc etc. Reminds me that the majority of people in this country don’t think the way I and most people I know do :(

Clavinova · 17/04/2020 22:38

His time as Mayor spotlighted many of his inadequacies

YouGov 2016 -

"For some he's the charming trailblazer who regenerated East London, got the city cycling and drove crime into the ground; for others he's the clown who made London the most unaffordable city in the world, cut the fire service and spent millions on white elephant projects. In politics he's a divisive character, but the fact is that he twice won a direct mandate from a predominantly Labour city – and turned his career around to the point of being the bookies' favourite for next Prime Minister."

"His approval rating has been remarkably consistent during his second term as Mayor, since 2012, and has been drastically higher than most national politicians' throughout. In hindsight, the majority of Londoners (52%) say he has done a good job, while 29% say he hasn't performed well."

artio0 · 17/04/2020 22:39

Boris de Pfeffel effin Johnson is a privileged shutehead who has no effin clue how the world works. I hate narrow minded, privately educated morons who think the sun shines out of their behinds.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 17/04/2020 22:39

He is charismatic has always attracted attention

He has always had a lot of support and interest in him. Now being a covid-19 survivor and having been so ill only adds to the interest

mummmy2017 · 17/04/2020 22:44

Please name the one country who have no deaths from this virus.
Because every country had some sort of plans, but no country can stop all the infections because this is far worse than anything expected.

PinkCrayon · 17/04/2020 23:03

I agree with you Op

starlightgazers · 17/04/2020 23:14

Please name the one country who have no deaths from this virus

There are some actually, but I don't see how this is relevant.

If this is far worse than anything expected, how come some countries, mainly the ones who followed WHO advice to test test test and contact trace, have had relatively few deaths? Seriously, some people need to open their eyes. Yes, the government had a hard job here, but they fucked up, no doubt about it. They made grave errors of judgement and thought they knew best when they did not. Hence why we are now on track to have highest rates in Europe It'll all come out in the wash one day.

LellyMcKelly · 17/04/2020 23:32

Ha yes. He’s a knob. Reminds of Boris Yeltsin.

Mummyoflittledragon · 17/04/2020 23:35

@mummmy2017
People aren’t just pissed off with him for what has happened in the last couple of months. What a simplistic and misrepresentative stance. To be clear, Boris Johnson is a despicable person. He has manipulated this country for years for his own gain. He is a Hateful, manipulative creature, who couldn’t care less if you and your entire family dropped down dead tomorrow. But hey, you continue to adulate and admire this tosser.

mummmy2017 · 17/04/2020 23:57

Yep , the tosser who is getting us out of the EU.
Who are going to almost bankrupt the remaining members, with demands for cash.
Thank god for Boris

Graphista · 18/04/2020 00:03

“I see the Labour Party have passed over yet two more female candidates for Party Leader.” Wow! Grasping at straws!

Do you know anything about those candidates beyond their being female? Rebecca long Bailey’s affiliation with corbyn worked against her and their blinkered stance on trans rights was a major issue for many voting in the leadership elections.

Electing someone JUST because they’re a woman is not a feminist act. We need women leaders who understand, appreciate and support women’s rights and how hard fought the ones we already have were. These 2 fell seriously short on that.

And yes he DID know this crisis was coming, he had more notice than other countries thanks to the nature of our geography which he FAILED spectacularly to use to the country’s advantage! He had weeks if not months of notice during which time he could have organised/purchased tests, ppe, ventilators etc

He fucked up!!

I truly don’t understand why people are unable to see this it’s blindingly bloody obvious!

user1471565182 · 18/04/2020 00:24

Do you think we're all so stupid that we've forgotten Johnson was roundly mocked around a month ago for doing nothing, talking about 'herd immunity' whilst other countries were locking down, and subsequently had to give a desperate press conference a few days later, mummy? do you think we cant see the very real effects that's now having with people losing their lives at a higher rate than the rest of Europe? Oh but you liked him on Have I got News For you so fuk da haterz.

user1471565182 · 18/04/2020 00:27

Are identity politics all the right has left these days, Clavinova? not sure you should be so quick to try and imply sexism when Johnson spent his wife's time suffering with cancer getting another woman pregnant...