Page 22 | Worst in Living Memory?

ElephantWhaleRabbit · 2020-12-21T13:45:20+00:00

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?

Peregrina · 23/12/2020 14:40

I wouldn't vote for Rory Stewart, he's still a Tory, but at least he has some principles. He's the sort of person the party needed instead of them getting kicked out.

MrsMiaWallis · 23/12/2020 14:44

Yes I was a Rory Stewart fan.

OhWhyNot · 23/12/2020 14:46

Well they didn’t need him to win an election (and I am not sure he would have won an election)

The Tories always have their eye on the next election and someone being unpopular with the party but popular with voters will get party support.

I think we shall start seeing more of Tobias Ellwood though he messed up last week.

Kendodd · 23/12/2020 14:46

Icebear99

The backstop preserved the peace in NI. I think that was a good thing, and we have left the EU.

jasjas1973 · 23/12/2020 14:52

@MrsMiaWallis

Yes I was a Rory Stewart fan.

Bloody hell! thats two things we agree on!!!

Of those in parliament now and potential leaders i.e Con MPs, i would like Tobias Ellwood as PM, he has guts and isn't afraid to criticise his party.. Clav could learn from him!

I'm no tory but if they have to be in power, please lets have a decent politician with some moral fibre and experience of RL.

This govt has little if any experience and it does really show.

Kendodd · 23/12/2020 14:53

The problem with Rory Stewart was that he wasn't funny, he wasn't a laugh, took politics and running the country seriously, clearly the electorate preferred a clown to make them laugh, treat life as a joke and a romp. Well we have our clown in number 10 and the rest of the world isn't laughing with him (us) they're laughing AT him and his stupidity. Has anyone seen some of the international press he's been getting?

MrsMiaWallis · 23/12/2020 14:53

Bloody hell! thats two things we agree on!!! 😄

Kendodd · 23/12/2020 14:54

Oh and for the Boris fans on the tread, No, the poor press internationally isn't because they're all jealous of us.

VinylDetective · 23/12/2020 15:09

This is spot on - some of the comments are savage. The world’s laughing at us.

www.nytimes.com/2020/12/20/world/europe/brexit-talks-coronavirus.html

sally067 · 23/12/2020 15:12

Unfortunately many so apathetic to politics and the understanding of government and governance nothing will land with them. Its like this whole household budget/countries credit card analogy with the economy again sad but the Tories play this game expertly.

The British working class are not bothered about political outcomes, only the personalities. And Boris is a good bloke, he’s amateur. British don’t like smart arses. British don’t value intelligence. British don’t like experts.

The arguments have been framed to portray Johnson as “battling premier” rather than the feckless liar he has always been. Such people should be asking themselves ‘is his best good enough?’ We have a PM that’s led a complete clownshow of a pandemic response and thousands are dead. Should we really be saying ‘oh well they tried’.

MrsMiaWallis · 23/12/2020 15:14

[quote VinylDetective]This is spot on - some of the comments are savage. The world’s laughing at us.

www.nytimes.com/2020/12/20/world/europe/brexit-talks-coronavirus.html[/quote]
That's rich, coming from an American newspaper 🤣

jasjas1973 · 23/12/2020 15:19

NY Times is no fan of Trump and at least the yanks realised their mistake.
What one of america's leading newspapers thinks of Johnson should concern us.

nosswith · 23/12/2020 15:43

@VinylDetective we have been a laughing stock abroad for a while, at least since June 2016. When I was abroad (pre Covid and in September) I did my utmost to avoid being identified as English, as I am ashamed of the government that supposed acts in my name.

VinylDetective · 23/12/2020 15:51

The comments are from all over the world @MrsMiaWallis.

OhWhyNot · 23/12/2020 16:00

I really don’t get this we are the laughing stock do you really think people are that interested in us (that really does play into we are so full of our own self importantance that you are critical of)

We really are not that important. Do most people have an interest in German or French politics no other than a vague interest at election time (more interest is shown about Macron and his older wife). I was in Germany a few weeks after the referendum (mixed views) and have been there are few times since it was discussed but no one is that interested they have their own concerns what happening in their country and with the EU

And they certainly are not in the state’s

China, America and Russian politics is a different matter they are more powerful So interest is international

I can’t remember what politician said that the vast majority of the public are only interested in politics for a few weeks very four years - I think that’s about right

nosswith · 23/12/2020 16:09

@OhWhyNot

I really don’t get this we are the laughing stock do you really think people are that interested in us (that really does play into we are so full of our own self importantance that you are critical of)

We really are not that important. Do most people have an interest in German or French politics no other than a vague interest at election time (more interest is shown about Macron and his older wife). I was in Germany a few weeks after the referendum (mixed views) and have been there are few times since it was discussed but no one is that interested they have their own concerns what happening in their country and with the EU

And they certainly are not in the state’s

China, America and Russian politics is a different matter they are more powerful So interest is international

I can’t remember what politician said that the vast majority of the public are only interested in politics for a few weeks very four years - I think that’s about right

If people find out I am English when abroad, Brexit is immediately mentioned. Hence my decision not to reveal this if at all possible.

OhWhyNot · 23/12/2020 16:19

Really

Was my experience at first most didn’t get why we (not myself) voted to leave but other than that there was no laughing (and this was in Germany)

Germany have their own concerns over what is happening in their country the far right sitting comfortably in their equivalent of HOP is certainly one of them. And also there is concern about Germany holding up the EU financially

France have their own concerns as do Spain and Italy

Why do you think people are that bothered if it doesn’t directly impact their lives. They aren’t as most people are not overly interested in the politics of other countries than the three major powers

bemusedmoose · 23/12/2020 17:00

He was usless before being PM - he waa never going to do a good job.

And before people go on about the poor lad having a rough trott - the NZ prime minister nailed it and she'd just given birth. So it's perfectly possible to do a far better job than he did.

He is in capable of doing a good job at all.

MrsMiaWallis · 23/12/2020 17:16

@VinylDetective

The comments are from all over the world *@MrsMiaWallis*.

Well yeah, do you ever read the Times comment section? Lots of idiots in comments sections!

MrsMiaWallis · 23/12/2020 17:18

If people find out I am English when abroad, Brexit is immediately mentioned. Hence my decision not to reveal this if at all possible

I travelled to 9 different countries in 2019 and the beginning of 2020 including Germany, Italy and France. Literally noone mentioned Brexit to me!

VinylDetective · 23/12/2020 17:20

Well yeah, do you ever read the Times comment section? Lots of idiots in comments sections!

Plenty in the Daily Mail, not so much the NYT.

jasjas1973 · 23/12/2020 17:44

In my travels since 2016, many hoteliers have mentioned Brexit, initially thought it would be stopped but more recently are worried about a drop in tourism.
Johnson is always described as Britains Trump!

cologne4711 · 23/12/2020 18:10

Those of you who are convinced we're a laughing stock think the UK is far more important and interesting than it is, an article by two journalists in the NY Times notwithstanding.

Countries have their own problems, they really don't care about ours.

I went to Germany 3 weeks after the referendum, people mentioned it then because it was very fresh news. I also went a few weeks before the March 2019 deadline and one person mentioned it then but only in the context of me stocking up on German goodies in case I couldn't get them for a while. Otherwise I've never heard it mentioned on overseas visits.

cologne4711 · 23/12/2020 18:12

If people find out I am English when abroad, Brexit is immediately mentioned. Hence my decision not to reveal this if at all possible

Not my experience. But have fun trying to hide an English/British accent when speaking a foreign language unless you are uniquely talented!

Peregrina · 23/12/2020 18:44

But have fun trying to hide an English/British accent when speaking a foreign language unless you are uniquely talented!

I have found that most people appreciate that you're trying to make the effort. It's annoying when they answer in fluent English, but if you tell them that you are trying to learn the language, most will co-operate and help you out.