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Brexit
Original poster

Boris Johnson has pulled out of leadership race

376 replies

feckity · 30/06/2016 11:59

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-36570120

OP posts:
DancingDinosaur · 30/06/2016 12:00

Good.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 30/06/2016 12:01

What a strange turn of events

I'm glad if he became PM it would be bad news for Labour

ImperialBlether · 30/06/2016 12:02

Good on the one hand but of course he didn't want to deal with leaving Europe, did he? Did you see his face on Friday? He's an absolute bastard for stirring it all up then leaving it for someone else to deal with.

Original poster
feckity · 30/06/2016 12:02

I'm torn between being glad he won't ever be PM, and angry that he won't be held in any way accountable for this shit he has created.

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 30/06/2016 12:02

Very sensible. It was a bit of a poisoned chalice. Far better to hold back and run when the next PM resigns after invoking article 50.

ManonLescaut · 30/06/2016 12:02

And Gove is replacing him. Ye Gods.

BertrandRussell · 30/06/2016 12:03

We're only in this mess because he wanted to be Prime Minister- and now he isn't even standing!

FellOutOfBed2wice · 30/06/2016 12:04

Good. Prick. Who now though? Please not Gove.

Namechanger2015 · 30/06/2016 12:04

I'm not sure what to make of this really - in a weird way I respect him for putting his career motives aside - his speech was carefully worded and he said he would support the agenda he believes in - he clearly did not believe the Leave campaign would win.

However he should now address the lies of the Leave campaign.

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 30/06/2016 12:04

If Gove becomes PM .... god help us all. Although the same goes for May and all the rest of them, to be fair. And went for Cameron too.

BertrandRussell · 30/06/2016 12:04

He'll run again in 3/4 years.

Mind like a steel trap and vaunting ambition.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 30/06/2016 12:05

Do you not think Boris could put on an act on Friday he wanted to come across as morw serious

He always puts on an act he wouldn't have been stretched to over this last week

Namechanger2015 · 30/06/2016 12:05

Very sensible. It was a bit of a poisoned chalice. Far better to hold back and run when the next PM resigns after invoking article 50.

I agree - I think he will hang Gove out to dry, and then waltz back in and 'save the day' in 4 years time post-Brexit fall out.

I am very glad he is not running now, I don't think the Remainers could stomach it.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 30/06/2016 12:06

I agree I think he will run again dust settles from the referendum and voters have short memories

TattyCat · 30/06/2016 12:07

I don't blame him - it's a poisoned chalice (as someone else just said). He may well be playing a longer game. Who knows?

For sure, I don't want someone in that position who doesn't want to be there! Whoever does take that role between now and the next GE will need the hide of a rhino and prepared for a shit storm!

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 30/06/2016 12:07

Two old Etonians who came along, arsed things up in a half-arsed way and then arsed off when the going got tough. I now imagine those famous playing fields as full of rosy cheeked lads who come along and say 'hey, I've got a great idea for a new game - it's called Painball (or something), and we should ditch all other sports and do that - oh, several of you appear to have died. Well, I'm off in for tea.'

SonicSpotlight · 30/06/2016 12:07

I was just thinking that Bertram. Let someone else do all the tidying up of the minor details of pulling out of Europe and swan back in later.

Original poster
feckity · 30/06/2016 12:08

It really feels like noone sensible would want to be prime minister right now. Which only really leaves idiots in the running. Woop.

OP posts:
Bragadocia · 30/06/2016 12:09

So, prior to the Referendum, the contest we all thought there would be when Cameron stepped down (somewhere mid-term of this Parliament) was Osborne v Johnson. Now it seems they will still battle each other for the leadership one day; just not now. It'll be interesting for them to work together for the next few years (unless we get a GE, and then, who knows?)

legotits · 30/06/2016 12:10

Not as green as he is cabbage looking old Boris.

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 30/06/2016 12:11

And Gove is standing instead. Shock

I think Boris is just letting someone else deal with this shit storm and then he will run for PM in 3-4 years.

TattyCat · 30/06/2016 12:11

However he should now address the lies of the Leave campaign.

Clear something up for me please? I know the leave campaign was based on the bus slogan of £350m going to the NHS instead of the EU. However, why did anyone actually believe that?

BJ and NF were in no position to implement that or follow through on any such potential - perhaps if David Cameron had said it I might have believed it but someone not in power? And not only that but the claim came from campaigners from the opposing party as well (Gisela Stuart etc). I really don't get it.

Nightofthetentacle · 30/06/2016 12:12

I'm weirdly very angry about this - perhaps as he has dumped us all in this shit and will now floof off somewhere without a shred of responsibility.

Tanith · 30/06/2016 12:12

I think the electorate will find Gove even less appealling than John Major.

Chrysanthemum5 · 30/06/2016 12:12

I think it's cowardly. He gave the Leave campaign its profile which helped it win. Yet now he knows it's a complete mess he's sitting back. I don't generally get that upset about the behaviour of MPs as I don't expect much of them but in this case I'm shocked as how cowardly and pathetic he is.

No idea who will win now. I just wish the main parties would sort themselves out and start working out how to move forward.