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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Worst in Living Memory?

641 replies

ElephantWhaleRabbit · 21/12/2020 13:45

Maybe it’s because we’re all caught up in everything right now, but AIBU to think Boris Johnson the worst Prime Minister in living memory? I mean, which of the former PMs, wouldn’t you swap in for him? Or is he just a victim of a bad set of circumstances?

OP posts:
Helpneededbyanoutsider · 22/12/2020 19:53

@ElephantWhaleRabbit

Maybe it’s because we’re all caught up in everything right now, but AIBU to think Boris Johnson the worst Prime Minister in living memory? I mean, which of the former PMs, wouldn’t you swap in for him? Or is he just a victim of a bad set of circumstances?
What other PM has had deal with something as major as brexit...and then a global pandemic? A job no one wants. If you look at what other European leaders have done and how they’ve coped we’re doing fine. It’s a terrible situation. I accept he’s not perfect but I do feel that criticising isn't going to achieve anything...
LakieLady · 22/12/2020 19:56

@SkySports

Maggie was the worst ever.

Greed is good remember.

Privatise everything - all of the previously privatised industries cost a huge amount more than they ever did.

Vile in how she looked at the poor/the miners/ etc vile person.

Thatcher was despicable, but I think she'd have made a better job of dealing with a pandemic than Johnson. She'd have been focussed and decisive, she would have acted promptly, she'd have understood the science, and she recognised that sometimes unpopular decisions have to be made.

I can remember every PM as far back as Macmillan (although I was only a child then) and I think Johnson is the worst in my lifetime.

The worst decision by a PM in my lifetime was Blair's illegal war, although Cameron's divisive and idiotic referendum runs it close.

akerman · 22/12/2020 20:00

Why are people pitying Johnson for having to deal with Brexit? He’s one of its architects, FFS!

Galdos · 22/12/2020 20:01

Thus far BJ hasn't covered himself in glory. However no previous prime minister in living memory - and my political memory goes back to Heath/Wilson - has had to cope with anything like the pandemic. The UK was almost completely unprepared for the pandemic, despite the possibility being one of the red flags raised only 2 or 3 years ago. (Others misjudged it too - the French were busy destroying 'excess' PPE in January this year, to save storage costs … until the Deputy PM found out.)

To me Boris's style is suited to sunny days and boosterism, when with the pandemic we need something more sober and serious. Also, he seems loathe to take awkward decisions, and has several times had to contradict himself quite quickly over measures to contain/control Covid. His libertarian impulses sit awkwardly with an unthinking virus, which gets on with what it does - and varying forms of isolation or quarantine are the only weapon, short of an effective vaccine.

I think he was quite wrong to miss the opportunity offered to postpone the Brexit deadline, so he has landed the government - many ministers being rather lightweight, seemingly chosen for political loyalty rather than competence - with dealing with two very serious issues at the same time. The chaos in Dover today could well be a foretaste of worse to come.

His government, and he personally, have handed contracts and office to old pals, cronies and donors, wasting fabulous sums which could and should have been spent more thoughtfully. His defence of Cummings in early summer was an absolute disgrace, and his Lords appointments look like the most egregious cronyism. The possible good news is that he doesn't appear to be enjoying any of this, and I suspect will depart (to the Lords, natch, on nice allowances) once Brexit in particular is done, perhaps after a bit of an interval. He has apparently claimed money troubles, the PM's salary being well under what he is used to, and he has expensive commitments ...

Msbluebozooka · 22/12/2020 20:01

This government is a disgrace, its embrassing. They knew about this in November last year!!! But decided to carry on with events, listening to his friend Dominic Cummings!! They have blood on thier hands and should resign!!

ERFFER · 22/12/2020 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Impatiens · 22/12/2020 20:04

Maggie was the worst ever. Greed is good remember.

Wasn't that Gordon Gecko?

CaptainSandy · 22/12/2020 20:08

What other PM has had deal with something as major as brexit...and then a global pandemic?
A job no one wants

He wanted Brexit, and to be PM. Why to eople keep posting as if this is something that happened to him rather than in part his own creation?

He is also deeply corrupt. Here is just the latest:
www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/22/pm-rejects-official-advice-in-awarding-peter-cruddas-peerage

P999 · 22/12/2020 20:10

Cameron has a shit load to answer for

keffie12 · 22/12/2020 20:23

Johnson and his scumbag lot are the worst ever. Brexir was the start of that. Johnson was always a remainer.

In fact I wouldn't even call Johnson and Co Tories! Thry are jumped up pish men who belong to the Bullingdon boys set. They have never had to work for anything in their lives.

We wouldn't be in this mess if Maggie had been in charge. Thatcher and her generation had an idealisation, but did have some principles.

No he isn't to blame for Covid. His reactions and how they have handled it is chaotic, irresponsible and typical of this generation of "Tories" is what the problem is

notafanoftheman · 22/12/2020 20:27

no one saw this coming

Fuck sake that has been debunked several times on this thread, let alone anywhere else.

keffie12 · 22/12/2020 20:27

Oh yes I forgot the reason they wanted Brexit is to line there own pockets. Its called chaotic politics and the Tory doners making a fortune out of shortening the pound.

Those who voted Brexit did not vote leave for the same reasons as Joe Public. The government and doners Brexiteers voted leave to line their own pockets

dogsarethebestpeople · 22/12/2020 20:30

He is funneling millions and millions into the pockets of his friends. He is a crook.

Sozzler · 22/12/2020 20:44

He has handled this crisis appallingly and anyone who thinks otherwise really hasn't been paying attention. We have one of the worst death rates in Europe, and our economy is being hit the hardest. In the beginning they refused to listen to the global scientific advice and instead followed a herd immunity strategy that they had to abandon because it became abundantly clear that they would be killing off a large swathe of the population. This meant we were far too slow taking action which resulted in many more unnecessary deaths.

The level of blatant cronyism is shocking, Boris and his chums/donors have exploited the pandemic to syphon money from the public to the private sector and have awarded billions of pounds worth of contracts to inexperienced companies/friends/acquaintances/donors for inadequate products and services.

He has continuously given confusing advice, u-turned at the last minute, failed spectacularly at providing strong and clear leadership,, and publicly disregarded government advice by doing things like being pictured shaking hands with people and not socially distancing. He has also allowed his top staff to publicly flout the rules without any consequences. I could go on and on, but this post would be way too long!

Yes, this is an unprecedented situation that no PM has had to deal with before. However, if you compare Boris Johnson with leaders from other countries, there are very few that have fucked it up as much as he has!

Darkrainbowsquid · 22/12/2020 20:45

He is useless.

nosswith · 22/12/2020 20:45

@keffie12 I agree with you this is not a Tory government, but a government made up of members of the Conservative Party. Tories understand business, subscribe to basic personal morals, respect the Queen and Parliament. Mr Johnson does none of these.

And 100% that Mrs Thatcher would have responded better to the pandemic. Whatever your views about the miners' strike, it demonstrated her government could plan and act in a timely manner.

looseddaughter · 22/12/2020 20:51

So depressing - just seen a poll showing the Tories are still just ahead of Labour. Just cannot understand why but then I see all the responses on here saying 'He's doing his best; could you do better? No one saw this coming; he didn't want Brexit and Covid...' and I understand why. FFS, I do wish people would pay attention and not bloody vote Tory unless it's because they are rich and don't care about other people...

impossible · 22/12/2020 21:08

I can't understand it either. I think people don't look very hard and I'm not sure why when there's so much pain around, my ch if I hich could have been avoided. Even the Tory papers are pointing up the catastrophic mistakes made by this government.

Kendodd · 22/12/2020 21:10

I bet in the years to come the Tories will somehow manage to blame the economic and cultural disaster of Brexit on Labour and the other parties. And their voters will fall for it and nod along.

RoSEbuds6 · 22/12/2020 21:18

They’ll blame the EU first surely- and then Remoaners, and then Labour.

jasjas1973 · 22/12/2020 21:19

@Kendodd

I bet in the years to come the Tories will somehow manage to blame the economic and cultural disaster of Brexit on Labour and the other parties. And their voters will fall for it and nod along.
Not wrong, on here a poster blamed the 3 day week on Labour.... despite it happening under Edward Heath.

Ask many people and they'll blame Labour for ALL the economic problems in the 70s.

They've done it with GFC, many think it was purely a UK financial crash and/or caused by Labour.

luckylavender · 22/12/2020 21:22

@Foxyloxy1plus1 - I'm no fan of Corbyn's but that's rubbish. He was never PM.

luckylavender · 22/12/2020 21:25

@Cocomarine - I thought Thatcher was the worse thing ever to happen to this country but I'm as certain as I can be that she would have been much more effective than Johnson at dealing with this. She was efficient & detailed. She didn't turn up to Press Conferences consistently late looking as if she'd slept in her clothes, smirking and telling lies for a start.

impossible · 22/12/2020 21:28

Watch this v short video. This man funded the brexit campaign and made £220 on the leave vote. Personal greed runs through brexit covid contracts
httpss://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DyCWaUnIBq90&ved=2ahUKEwjcoJXAweLtAhUxZxUIHc-PCe8Qo7QBMAF6BAgAEAE&usg=AOvVaw1vINyXDULusjeLypjtPtNT

luckylavender · 22/12/2020 21:31

@Crankley - list them if you want, I think I know what you'll say & most of it will be fair I guess. But please don't forget that the Tories have been in government for nearly 11 years & the country is on its knees. The NHS is chronically underfunded & we may be about to pay a terrible price.