To wonder how anyone can think Boris Johnson is doing a good job

[Katekarate]

Can't believe the mess of opening everything up Monday when the cases are going up so quickly. And when he gives speeches they're almost incoherent most of the time. I'm wondering who can look at how it's all going and not despair, I think he's rubbish at the job.

Just out of interest op, who do you think would have done a better job?

'For every ten people who are clamouring for 'freedom day' there are ten more who want lock down. For every ten who wanted schools open, there were ten screaming for them to be shut. Every single decision made, every change, he's slated for.'

Yes and Sturgeon and others make similar decisions yet get excitable pom pom waving from some on mn.

I mean fine don't like Johnson you really dont have to, but until there's a credible opposition and not the bumbling bunch they currently have we are stuck with the tories for the foreseeable.

I mean fine don't like Johnson you really dont have to, but until there's a credible opposition and not the bumbling bunch they currently have we are stuck with the tories for the foreseeable

I agree 😕

There's a whole machine of working advisors who direct the narrative. Don't be so ignorant to think Boris works alone and is some sort of monster So he claims credit for vaccines vaccines vaccines but the blame gets shared around. He picked his cabinet, that's on him.

Imagine the protest and fuss if restrictions were not removed; the outcry by those wanting their freedom.

Would there be though? I think most people understand why eg we might need masks in shops till vaccinations of all age groups is finished

Just out of interest op, who do you think would have done a better job?
Most people.
Theresa May, Jeremy Hunt, Rory Stewart, Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy, Hilary Benn, David Gauke.
Also many CEOs and business people
Many other world leaders
Plenty of people

@Katekarate I agree with you about the number of people who could have done a better job. I think Mr Johnson is the worst Prime Minister ever. I can only think of one who would definitely be worse, Mr Grayling.

To answer the question, I think:

• many make the comparison with the Hamas and historic IRA sympathiser Mr Corbyn, who has no known experience of running anything.

-sympathy for any Prime Minister in this situation, and not thinking much about why the response is so poor. -some probably think having a go at Mr Johnson is being a Remoaner, the self-inflicted wound of Brexit and their unwillingness to accept it was a mistake -those who have a view that it is 'just like flu' and so hate any restrictions, thinking others would have had more

Probably some other reasons too.

Here's the thing: BJ could be the world's best and most competent and compassionate PM in the history of time.

But MN would still criticise him. Because he's a Tory.

Come on, OP.

@BoredZelda

What does Captain Hindsight say?

When international leaders and scientists are calling you a risk to the world, it hardly needs hindsight.

BUT CORBYN.

…hasn’t been the leader of the Labour Party since April 2020. He wouldn’t have been involved in any of the Covid stuff. Why him?

I feel the same way about Sturgeon. Her decisions have been as shit as his, but is better at giving speeches so people think she’s done fabulously.

To be fair, neither Sturgeon nor Drakeford are getting rid of masks on Monday! That's Boris' own special fuck up, and it's a massive one. Keeping masks as law wouldn't stop the economy opening up in the slightest bit - it's just a sensible measure to have when Covid is ripping through the country. The difference is that Boris WANTS people to get it ,i.e. herd immunity. Otherwise, he'd have kept the masks.

I was in Switzerland for the first two waves of Covid, and I can tell you right now that the government there (as with countless other governments around the world) did a job that was miles better than Boris and his callous, stupid government.

The Swiss government locked down quickly at the start of the pandemic, which meant that the lockdown only lasted for five weeks, then we opened up back pretty much as normal (with the exception of having to wear masks socially distance and respect hygiene and ventilation measures) for May, June, July, August and September, so the economy easily bounced back. They underestimated the second wave, but acted quickly once it was realised, then publicly admitted their mistakes and used it to act very quickly in December when the Kent variant was announced. They shut down bars and shops immediately (and workers were paid 80% of their wages because that already existed as a benefit for unemployment BEFORE the pandemic), before the variant really reached here, which meant that there was no third wave. Then they opened up gradually, kept the mask/distancing/hygiene/ventilation mandates, which is meaning that we have had another normal summer again. The economy is doing well as again, having bounced back from the closures, and almost everyone is vaccinated who has come forward to be vaccinated.

The problem they have is that people are reluctant to take the vaccine, but that is cultural as Swiss people are often slow and suspicious of new things, but this is not the government's fault. They've launched a successful vaccination campaign, vaccinating people in shopping malls etc., and they are now preparing for the third wave that is coming with the Delta and which is expected to be in full flow at the end of August.

This is just one country, but almost all developed countries have done better than the UK. Don't kid yourselves that it's otherwise and "nobody else could have done a better job", as that's just bullshit.

Also, it's no surprise that over a thousand scientists wrote to The Lancet saying that the UK's policy was "murderous" and "unconscionable" - it is. Basically, we are running the very high risk of creating a vaccine-resistant variant by letting Covid run lose in a country with high Covid rates, no restrictions and with some people still only partially vaccinated. It's madness.

There's a reason why the UK has been in almost perpetual lockdown, and it's Boris Johnston and his idiotic government.

For those of you defending him, open your eyes. Look around (and by around, I mean outside of the UK) and just think about how other leaders in other developed countries are doing and compare it.

@THisbackwithavengeance

Here's the thing: BJ could be the world's best and most competent and compassionate PM in the history of time.

But MN would still criticise him. Because he's a Tory.

Come on, OP.

What complete bollocks. I’m as anti Tory as they come but I could have lived with Jeremy Hunt or Rory Stewart. And, as pps have pointed out numerous past Tory leaders would have been light years better, even Thatcher who I despised with every fibre of my being.

@StoneofDestiny

He won't be hanging around to accept accountability - he will be off to 'spend more time with his family' and take up his seat in the Lords.

He'll be off making £100k for 30min speeches in the after dinner circuit.

Whatever he’ll be doing I just wish he’d piss off and do it so we can have a grown up in charge.

@THisbackwithavengeance

Here's the thing: BJ could be the world's best and most competent and compassionate PM in the history of time.

But MN would still criticise him. Because he's a Tory.

Come on, OP.

Instead we have a shambles of a PM who openly hates anyone who isn't white, straight, middle aged, wealthy and male, who has failed comprehensively in leading the government's response. Yet people still defend and vote for him.

Come on, UK.

I think it's an impossible job to be honest.

Managing the pandemic, the economy, education, other health matters, mental health and on and on.

I'm not a BJ fan but I'm not silly enough to believe that its an easy job or that someone else would have done it with no mistakes and not taking any gambles.

I voted Tory...not because I didn't like Corbyn but because I didn't see any workable policies in the alternative parties. Its not enough just to disagree with everything the Torys say...what would you actually do?

@Streamingbannersofdawn

I think it's an impossible job to be honest.

Managing the pandemic, the economy, education, other health matters, mental health and on and on.

I'm not a BJ fan but I'm not silly enough to believe that its an easy job or that someone else would have done it with no mistakes and not taking any gambles.

I voted Tory...not because I didn't like Corbyn but because I didn't see any workable policies in the alternative parties. Its not enough just to disagree with everything the Torys say...what would you actually do?

See above. I might do some of the things Switzerland are doing. I'd take heed to what the scientists are saying that wrote to The Lancet. I'd have locked down sooner so that it was shorter. I definitely, 100%, would not be removing the mask mandate.

You are blind. Just look around you. Really LOOK at how other leaders are dealing with this!

I think the absolutely worst thing about the Tories is that at the start of the pandemic their first thought was how they could benefit from it - by giving contracts to cronies and family members. This is the most corrupt government in my lifetime, and we used to scoff at Berlusconi in Italy for having his nose in the trough.

Boris is doing what he's always done, lying and cheating. One day the former labour voters in the north who voted for him will realise they've been had.

Really LOOK at how other leaders are dealing with this!

Exactly that. Who wouldn’t rather be New Zealand now? That’s mature responsible leadership.

He’s a half-wit. He’d have got nowhere without his expensive education and his plummy accent. The only constant in his life is that he’s a liar.
The rest of the world is looking on aghast.

I think people have unrealistic expextions of whats possible .

Very very easy to sit shouting from the side lines .

@rwalker

I think people have unrealistic expextions of whats possible .

Very very easy to sit shouting from the side lines .

We can see what’s possible by looking at the rest of the world. Other countries are doing infinitely better.

@rwalker

I think people have unrealistic expextions of whats possible .

Very very easy to sit shouting from the side lines .

The uk has done far worse than many other countries.

Sick of people saying "oh, but it's so hard for poor boris, he's done his best".

Turns out his best is nowhere near fucking good enough.

@rwalker

I think people have unrealistic expextions of whats possible .

Very very easy to sit shouting from the side lines .

Some of us have lived in other countries during the pandemic and have seen first hand what’s possible.

I was disappointed to read that it was nt whitty who wanted to act swiftly when the covid train first came back hurtling towards us it was valance and Cummings.
. Valance and Cummings very quickly saw what we were up agaisnt and whitty wanted to be more cautious.

I've always thought whitty was the voice of reason and I've put valance down many a time on here and I feel a little guilty now.

@THisbackwithavengeance

Here's the thing: BJ could be the world's best and most competent and compassionate PM in the history of time.

But MN would still criticise him. Because he's a Tory.

Come on, OP.

Well that will be one thing we will never know and you can never prove because he never will be.

And, as pps have pointed out numerous past Tory leaders would have been light years better, even Thatcher who I despised with every fibre of my being.

agree - as a scientist i think she would have been much better. As someone a bit po-faced she wouldn't have touched a failure like Dido Harding with a bargepole, and she wouldn't have simply sent 37 million into a black hole. And i absolutely loathed her but she is nothing like the corrupt self-interested fuckers you have in charge now.

As for the vaccine programme - he even managed to piss away any advantage you got with the quick start too, as pp have mentioned, Germany had a pretty catastrophic start but have completely caught up (and overtaken I think?) so he hasn't even got that now. People here in Germany keep asking me what Brits are thinking having an idiot like that in charge - and i simply can't answer it.