Where is Boris?!

[SleepymummyZzz]

Why is Boris no longer doing the daily press conference? I get that he doesn’t need to do it every day but it would be nice if he showed his face once a week!

Boris wanting to be like Churchill and he could spin Brexit as a patriotic and democratic act ("will of the people") because he wants his place in the history books

Oh yes he will have his place in the history books, no doubt about that but all for the wrong reasons.

I’m saying there are times when politics should not be the main agenda, it’s too serious for that; getting through this is above all that.

But there are serious political decisions to be made resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and the recession that will ensue. The medical pointy heads can only do so much; the country needs a well thought out strategy and proper leadership. You can't exclude politics from that process.

Apart from anything the British people deserve a well-informed and effective opposition challenging the government and holding them to account.

There is already a huge social justice element to the pandemic with some of our lowest paid workers (supermarket workers, rubbish collectors, nurses, hospital porters/cleaners, bus drivers, parcel couriers, lorry drivers) effectively keeping the country running. How can you ignore the political significance of that?

Similarly, how are we going to pay for furlough payments and unemployment benefits? Should taxes rise? Is that not a political decision?

Oh yes he will have his place in the history books, no doubt about that but all for the wrong reasons.

Can you imagine what might have happened in the Second World War had Johnson been in charge rather than Churchill?

“Keir Starmer should politics the fuck out of Johnson at every opportunity.“

@Starksforthewin

Indeed

“There is already a huge social justice element to the pandemic with some of our lowest paid workers (supermarket workers, rubbish collectors, nurses, hospital porters/cleaners, bus drivers, parcel couriers, lorry drivers) effectively keeping the country running. How can you ignore the political significance of that? “

So much this.

Depressing thought. Johnson will use continued lockdown to justify trashing the economy.

Politicians suggest that their opponents "put politics aside" when they are on the back foot and want to dodge the question.

To suggest that Keir Starmer put politics aside is to suggest that he cease to hold the government to account, which is the fundamental role of the opposition. Do we really want to stop holding the government to account?

His baby’s still in hospital isn’t he? I imagine Boris is rather busy. And still somewhat exhausted.

Nicola Sturgeon manages to do them every day. Surely iris should at least do a couple a week.

Boris

Wasn't his baby born at the end of April? So he's hardly likely to still be in hospital unless there is something wrong with him. I can't really see Boris being a hands on Dad. Why break the habits of a lifetime?

Carrie tweeted that she left hospital with the baby on 7th May.

@ilovesooty

You are spot on!

Orwell was right.

“Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once a fortnight. When he did appear, he was attended by not only his retinue of dogs but a black cockerel that marched in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter, letting out a loud ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ before Napoleon spoke.”

Of course Johnson is lacking his trumpeters in Parliament at the moment because of social distancing. That’s why he only turns up for PMQs. And even then only sometimes.

And just you point out if he really is too ill/exhausted/recovering/busy to do his duties... that’s fair enough but shouldn’t he say so if that’s the case and appoint someone else. In a national crisis.

@nauticant Shudder the thought.

He’s more Henry VIII than Churchill.

In mid March there was a documentary on Channel 5 called "Henry VIII and Trump: History Repeating? "

I am the staunchest Conservative you could ever meet, yet I find myself asking 'where is Boris'. He is not doing himself any favours at the moment.

Conservative voter here, really disappointed with Boris.
Day after day he sends his cabinet out like lambs to the slaughter to answer the difficult press questions.
Bad leadership. My faith in him is gone.
Scottish FM up there every single day taking the difficult questions and leading the country.
He needs to go after this

I find it very interesting that this kind of view from Conservative voters is being shared here and on other social media. I mean, I've always thought the lying, cheating charlatan would be a disgrace to the office of PM. I am genuinely sad that the proof of that has come at the price of so many lives. But for supporters of his to be acknowledging that this has been a total failure of leadership, where the country needed him to step up and he has let us down, is telling.

The Tories are ruthless about getting rid of dead weight leaders who drag them down. Interesting times ahead for them and Johnson.

Arch-conservative voter here, utterly disappointed in Johnson and I have written to my (Labour) MP and the local Conservative party leadership trying my best to get a rebellion going (it seems very distant).

Lolz at Boris suffering lack of sleep from newborn like he's some hands on everyman doing his share of the night wakings 🤣

I’ve been saying “where’s Boris?” for about 5 days now.

His vanishing act is not acceptable. He’s supposed to be our leader, the one who will get us through this crisis, and he’s nowhere to be seen.

He should be showing his face regularly even if just to demonstrate that “we’re in it together” which is another catchphrase he’s thrown around a few times.

The only reason I can think of that makes his disappearance anyway justifiable is if he’s ill from the stress and not having recovered from Covid properly, but if that’s the case then we should be told and someone else should be appointed.

He’s either sick or a coward.

That’s my take on it.

He is sick and a coward - the worse of all worlds.

twitter.com/RobinBrittonTV/status/1262895772246462465

Phew I read somewhere the Govt had gone off on their summer recess a day early and that PMQ wasn't happening. I was incensed but...
that story is wrong. According to the BBC it is happening at 12 noon and I'll be tuning in.
I presume Press Briefings will still be held during recess? If not, we will be well and truly cast adrift, there needs to be some questioning from the media.

I am amused at the thought of BoJo saying to Carrie... you sleep over the other side of the flat, and I'll do all the waking up tonight with little whatshisname.
As if. I doubt he is much of a hands on father.

I really really hope he isn't unwell and is recuperating, going out jogging is a good sign. I want him to be well to be held accountable on the handling of the pandemic. As it is when the end of the year No Deal happens and we're hit hard, he will be blaming COVID.

He is busy being aloof and "presidential" setting up other ministers to take the blame.

Thank heavens for PMQs.

What... this sort of presidential?!

To suggest that Keir Starmer put politics aside is to suggest that he cease to hold the government to account, which is the fundamental role of the opposition. Do we really want to stop holding the government to account?

That is absolutely what some of the people slagging the Opposition and public off for scrutinising the government want, yes.

Rousette