Part 6 A thread for the continued enjoyment of Boris' downfall, enjoyment being important

[jgw1]

What the title says.

This will be the one where he resigns, so if please keep the whatabout to a minimum.

I just watched all 1 HR 9.5 mins of John Major's address and I agreed with every word he said.

He covered everything: lying, sorry 'misleading' parliament, donors getting seats in the Lord's, illegally proroguing parliament, cabinet ministers being yes men, xenophobia and cruelty to migrants, Brexit lies, to name but a few. I didn't know he sued the government. I'm actually really impressed. Oh for the times when our PMs were there because they actually believed in what they were doing

The reporters were ridiculous with their questions, asking things he'd already answered. These people are brainless

Major won the 1992 GE partly on his economic policy of continued membership of the ERM (entered into by Mrs Thatcher) - so people voted for it. Black Wednesday happened because of the weak economy and subsequent collapse of the pound.

The Conservatives have a wholly undeserved reputation of managing the economy well. They’ve certainly trashed it with Brexit.

@DuncinToffee

But was there anything wrong with the speech he gave today Boody? If so, please tell.

There wasn't. These people haven't even watched it. Their comments are the usual whataboutisms, talking about affairs and Spitting Image FFS. Embarrassing. If his affair is a reason to dismiss him without listening to him, what about our dear leader who actually moved OW into number 10 and then took the piss with a 100k refurb that they lied about, to name one issue

@Notonthestairs

"The thing I remember most clearly about John Major was his attempt to push UK interest rates up to 15% on Black Wednesday, in a futile attempt to replace the pound sterling with the euro"

You see that's just not true is it? Because if it was true it would have been the first thing you mentioned rather than his rather obscure O levels results. Google quicker.

He didn't just state the obvious he made it clear Johnson should resign, he underlined the stupidity of sending ministers out to cover up the parties and the resulting deflections and lies brought the government in to disrepute. It's damaged public health messages, probably irredeemably. Might not be important to you, it is to me.

He also highlighted the ridiculous not to mention dangerous position NI has been left in.

I'd still take 3 O levels Major over Johnson.

Notonthestairs: I'd still take 3 O levels Major over Johnson.

But it's not up to you. Whether Johnson stays or goes in the immediate future is up to his MPs, and they are unlikely to prefer their party's biggest vote loser (Major) over one of its biggest vote winners.

@BoodyDedalus maybe actually watch the speech and don't just rely on headlines from the Daily Heil, huh?

they are unlikely to prefer their party's biggest vote loser (Major) over one of its biggest vote winners

I suspect that might be reversed if it was tried now. If there was an election that stipulated we had to have a Conservative government - choose between Johnson and Major - I reckon Major would be PM by a landslide, despite him being nearly 80.

It's not up to me????? I'm shocked I tell you. Shocked.

Major won 14 million votes in 1992 so somebody liked him at one point.

But as we all know - what comes up must come down.

@Blossomtoes

The fact of the matter is that John Major was always a plodder, good at rather small-scale fruitless initiatives

Odd. I always thought the Good Friday agreement, of which he was the architect, was quite a large scale and fruitful achievement.

Tony Blair and Mo Mowlem did most of the work. But it is a highly controversial subject because the killings have never stopped - now they just happen quietly on the backstreets of Belfast and Derry, rather than in spectacular explosions on the streets of London. There have been nearly 200 terrorist-related murders in Ulster since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. And, of course, power-sharing in Ulster has now ceased and the Unionists are complaining that the Good Friday Agreement has been wrecked by the creation of a new border.

@Blossomtoes

they are unlikely to prefer their party's biggest vote loser (Major) over one of its biggest vote winners

I suspect that might be reversed if it was tried now. If there was an election that stipulated we had to have a Conservative government - choose between Johnson and Major - I reckon Major would be PM by a landslide, despite him being nearly 80.

As I said, it is the MPs who choose their leader and it is unlikely they would prefer someone who previously gave them their biggest loss of seats in centuries.

But it's not up to you. Whether Johnson stays or goes in the immediate future is up to his MPs, and they are unlikely to prefer their party's biggest vote loser (Major) over one of its biggest vote winners.

The Conservatives under Major won the 1992 election with 14,093,007 votes - still their highest ever vote I believe. Their 2019 vote was 13,966,454.

I doubt Johnson will make it to the next election but if he does then I suspect he'll easily overtake Major as the biggest vote loser.

You know nobody is actually expecting John Major to run for leadership of the Conservative party right?

the Unionists are complaining that the Good Friday Agreement has been wrecked by the creation of a new border

Odd as their almost delusional promotion of Brexit was explicitly in order to destroy the GFA. In fact NI is doing pretty well under the Protocol as it is in a unique position to access both the EU and the UK internal markets. Politically, that doesn’t suit the DUP so they persistently claim otherwise, and our PM persistently says he agrees with them - despite having signed the thing in the first place.
Truly, ‘tis a wonder.

and they are unlikely to prefer their party's biggest vote loser (Major) over one of its biggest vote winners.

If any of them think John Major losing to Blair is comparable to Johnson winning against Corbyn, they are deluded.

@JaniieJones

'Sergey Lavrov has just briskly walked off, leaving trussliz on her own at the podium. He said talking to her was ‘like talking to a deaf person’ & said what Russia does in its own territory is ‘not her business.’

What?? Russian diplomat rude and unhelpful? Who knew. I thought the Russians were known for being polite team players!

Who else have the Russians treated like this? Biden? Macron? Stoltenberg?

What has she or Bojo achieved apart from pissing off the Russians.

Putin etc would have seen Bojo's low level of intellect.. PeppaPig/Bruuummm Bruuumm! FFS talk about embarrassing esp for a country that has a nuclear deterrent.

Can't answer if you hold BJ to the same standards as you do Major?

[quote GreenLunchBox]@BoodyDedalus maybe actually watch the speech and don't just rely on headlines from the Daily Heil, huh?[/quote]
An hour and ten minutes is far too long, especially from someone who was known throughout his premiership as "the grey man" because his lack of personality failed to inspire.

The headline about parties is in most of the dailies - and I got it from the BBC, not the DM.

@BoodyDedalusood 200 paramilitary murders since the GFA signed... compared 3500 prior to the GFA signing.. over a similar time period, plus a far more prosperous economy.

...and who supported Brexit, despite being told that a EU/UK land or sea border would risk a return to more violence in NI ? and then "negotiated" a WD almost guaranteed to cause such a situation

@Notonthestairs

You know nobody is actually expecting John Major to run for leadership of the Conservative party right?

Exactly. That's why I cannot see the point of people saying they would prefer Major to Johnson.

[quote Alexandra2001]@BoodyDedalusood 200 paramilitary murders since the GFA signed... compared 3500 prior to the GFA signing.. over a similar time period, plus a far more prosperous economy.

...and who supported Brexit, despite being told that a EU/UK land or sea border would risk a return to more violence in NI ? and then "negotiated" a WD almost guaranteed to cause such a situation[/quote]
You make 200 paramilitary murders sound almost like a good thing.

But it's not up to you. Whether Johnson stays or goes in the immediate future is up to his MPs, and they are unlikely to prefer their party's biggest vote loser (Major) over one of its biggest vote winners.

@BoodyDedalus
Yougov have on their website stats on various politicians. 56% of people say they dislike Johnson, whilst only 31% Major. Remind me who the vote winner is? How well did that go in the exceedingly conservative North Shropshire by-election?

@merrymouse

and they are unlikely to prefer their party's biggest vote loser (Major) over one of its biggest vote winners.

If any of them think John Major losing to Blair is comparable to Johnson winning against Corbyn, they are deluded.

Having watched the performance of many Tory MPs over the past few weeks, I don't think we need further evidence that they are deluded.

You make 200 paramilitary murders sound almost like a good thing

It’s a distinct improvement on 3,500 in the same timescale. It’s also made all the difference in the world for the vast majority of N Irish people who just want to get on with their lives.

I wish to thank all of the posters on this thread. I think it is safe to say that we are all continuing to enjoy the downfall of Boris greatly. I have particularly enjoyed some of the humorous contributions this afternoon about John Major.

But this thread is supposed to be one where he resigns, so could we perhaps slow down the quantity of posts about hazelnuts, peanuts and the like

An hour and ten minutes is far too long, especially from someone who was known throughout his premiership as "the grey man" because his lack of personality failed to inspire.

The headline about parties is in most of the dailies - and I got it from the BBC, not the DM.

You've not heard the speech then? Not read a transcript?

Your opinions on it are pretty worthless then aren't they?

Exactly. That's why I cannot see the point of people saying they would prefer Major to Johnson.

The context is which man currently has more credibility, in the light of Major’s speech. Is this not obvious?

But this thread is supposed to be one where he resigns, so could we perhaps slow down the quantity of posts about hazelnuts, peanuts and the like

That was a very optimistic aspiration. I suspect we may have to reach thread 12 before that happens. Johnson will have to be ejected from Downing Street kicking and screaming.