To think we need to stop calling him Boris

[Earnsomething]

He's not a loveable buffoon, there for our entertainment, he's an important man, with an incredibly serious job to do. He's Mr Johnson or the Prime Minister, Boris isn't even his actual name!

I feel like the more we call him Boris the more we excuse/allow the nonsense.

Alexander would be more correct I believe

I called him the PM on a thread as that is what he is, or Boris Johnson is appropriate as that is the same as as I would have called the other PMs, by their full name

Johnson.

Although in my head he's Bozo the bloody clown. I hate clowns.

we didn't say 'Mrs. May', 'Mr. Blair', 'Mr. Brown'.
Some people did/do, which I find weird, but there you go.

I don't think we referred to them by only their first names either?

Meh. I think language is important but I just can't get too bothered about this. I think he is ubiquitous enough by now that people will have made up their own minds about him by now, no matter what you call him.

For example, I think that insisting on calling him Mr Johnson or The Prime Minister gives him a level of respect I just don't think he deserves at the moment.

I have noticed some people call Keir Starmer, Keir, maybe because Boris and Keir are more unusual names whereas if you said Teresa, David or Tony, people would wonder wtf you were talking about as the names are more common.

Because Tony, Gordon and Theresa are far more common names. Boris - well most people will know who you're referring to. FWIW, I say 'Boris Johnson'. I always have and never even thought about it until now. But unless I'm speaking to someone about generalised UK politics I don't say The Prime Minister and i have certainly never said 'Mr./Mrs. Anything' to refer to the prime minister.

I call him Bawjaws 🤣

I just say the PM as agree that using "Boris" implies a loveable scamp or a PM of the people.

I think 'the people' and press used to call Winston Churchill just Winston. The PM and this Govt have relied heavily on a marketing campaign that likens Boris Johnson to Winston Churchill seems to work effectively for the Daily Mail.

1950s called (on the land line obviously). They’d like you back.

Well, I generally refer to the by their surnames. It would be odd if we used Matt as opposed to Matt Hancock or Hancock.
As with his forename, Johnson also doesn't use his full surname - again I guess to make him a relatable man of the people.
So going forward I am going to resolve to use his full surname of de Pfeffel Johnson

Actually I think the last PM was referred to as Mrs May much more often than the previous one had been called Mr Cameron, I remember thinking it was odd no one seemed to know how to refer to a woman.

I agree. It's a deliberate decision on his part, it makes him stand out (I don't know anyone else called Boris). His family call him Alex - his first name is Alexander. I can him Johnson; referring to the PM by surname has been the usual approach in times past. We didn't call Blair 'Tony' for example.

I think we just say Boris as we don’t know another one so it’s quite clear who is being discussed. (We being my close friends and family).
Equally we will talk about Jacinda rather than Jacinda Arden and I have lots of respect for her!
I know a Teresa and a David so would specify who I meant. Obviously in the course of the conversation it would become clear whether I mean David Cameron or Uncle Dave but I think it’s natural when you know more than one.
I do agree that the use of Boris over Alexander is designed to make him seem like a lovable buffoon.

Goes and Googles ‘Boris’’ real name... everyday’s a school day.

@earnsomething the only times I ever heard of her referred to as 'Mrs. May' was in the press, as you say I think it was because they found it odd to say 'the prime minister' for a woman. But amongst all my friends and family it was always Theresa May

Who cares what we call him we know who we are talking about

Didn't the supporters of Margaret Thatcher refer to her as "Maggie"?

Guessing this might be a common tactic to 'humanise' PMs.

I think it's funny that he doesn't deserve the gravitas of a surname or a title.

Just silly 'Boris '

I call him BJ. That's not a reflection of thinking of him in a complimentary way.

Actually, in the interests of fairness, I'm not 100% sure if de Pfeffel is a surname or a middle name.
So I'll use Johnson cunt until I clarify

For example, I think that insisting on calling him Mr Johnson or The Prime Minister gives him a level of respect I just don't think he deserves at the moment.

So just call him Boris Johnson, like we do with pretty much all other politicians.

Calling him Boris kind of implies that he is our friend.

I remember thinking it was odd no one seemed to know how to refer to a woman.

They knew. It was deliberate - she was referred to as Mrs May much more often than previous leaders, who would more often be "The Prime Minister", "The PM" or their first and last name.

Even at PM level, women have to smile and nod through covert misogyny.

[quote NumbsMet]@earnsomething the only times I ever heard of her referred to as 'Mrs. May' was in the press, as you say I think it was because they found it odd to say 'the prime minister' for a woman. But amongst all my friends and family it was always Theresa May[/quote]
We called her Mrs May for a laugh because it was the teacher in the school reading books. As for Maggie, it wasn't a positive thing - "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Out, Out, Out" was my main memory of her name.