Boris Johnson bringing the country together

[Arkadas]

Johnson has said: "... our job as the government – my job – is to bring this country together now"

How do people think he will be able to achieve this? I've been racking my brains ever since he said it. IMO, he lacks the necessary personal and diplomatic skills, as he would rather go for a quick laugh/off the cuff remark/than take any kind of thoughtful, reasoned, inclusive position.

I've struggled - and failed - to forgive him for his stupidity in the Nazanin Zagari Ratcliffe case, or his remarks about bum boys and piccaninny smiles, and don't believe he's fit to be PM for those things alone. Nevertheless, he is. So, how can he achieve his promise to bring the country together. What would you like him to do to achieve this?

If reconciliation were possible (and personally I don't think it is) it is beyond certain that Boris Johnson is the wrong person to try and achieve it.

I don't think reconciliation is possible one lifetime.

The relationship between the UK and EU is so important for the UK and will be discussed endlessly for the next year of course to get a 'bare bones' deal and then (optimistically) around 2 years after to flesh it out. Then we could have one blissful year before the general election campaign begins and it will all start again. Every change of government will hark the start of a new UK-EU relationship, with all the boring and predictable political postulating that goes alongside it.

Plus, personal relationships are damaged. I have decided to limit my contact with older members of my family who are Tory fans (though who can't or don't want to let on why) as I realise spending time with them now makes me more sad then happy.

Finally when I visit the UK I can feel and undercurrent of tension which comes out every now and then and is a bit awkward. Eg. Last year I was bulk buying chocolate to bring home (I love British chocolate) and a man behind me in the queue told me I was stupid if I thought it was necessary to stockpile for Brexit. Maybe the weird atmosphere will disappear over time.

It was an election, not a re-run of the referendum and

After three and a half years of nothing else being talked about the election was all about Brexit.

in terms of numbers of votes, I believe parties that were against Brexit or promised a second referendum got more of the vote share

That assumes that all those who wanted a second referendum were remainers. Some may have been leavers to prove the point that people had not changed their minds.

How can it be fair that an increased number of people voted for parties not supporting Brexit while the government won a majority of 80 seats?

You have assumed that those who wanted a second referendum were all remainers. Some may have been leavers.

But 57% voted against the Conservatives. How is that a conclusive pro-Brexit result?

Because the 57% was split. LibDems pure leave. Labour half remain and half leave.

Remember it is estimated that 5 million who voted labour in 2017 also voted leave in 2016. So how much of the labour vote in 2019, because some always vote labour, were leave supporters?

If we dont get a trade deal, then the brexiteers will soon find out what they voted for

Same assumption being made over and over by remain. Leave vote was based on;

Immigration
National pride
Dislike of the EU
WWII

etc.,

Unless we make it a legal requirement to vote I can't imagine some people ever not using the latter as an excuse

Some countries have compulsory voting, but nothing to stop people spoiling the ballot paper.

Mystery - not interested in the boring, repetitive arguments you're spaffing across multiple threads. It's boring. I'm interested in people's views on how Johnson might fulfil his goal - not in having an argument with you.

How do people think he will be able to achieve this?

• invest in the north of England and other leave-voting areas that have suffered decades of under-investment
• improve the transport network for people outside London
• do good trade deals with the EU and other nations (and not kowtow to Trump and the US - walk away from a US trade deal if it's not going to truly benefit the UK)
• get the economy back on track
• sort out law and order, including not allowing terrorists out of jail early, deporting foreign criminals quickly and overhauling the prison system.
• employ more people at the Home Office to make speedier decisions on immigration cases
• stop the 'right to buy' scheme and invest money in building more affordable housing.
• stop the 'property for life' system and have a much more streamlined system that allows ease of movement between starter homes to family homes to retirement accommodation. People should be able to upsize and downsize via a home swap scheme in all areas. If other nations can do this, why can't we?

I'm interested in people's views on how Johnson might fulfil his goal

Not convinced about that. Looks very like another

"Remainers know better and the more threads we start to criticise leavers then the more we know better"

A better approach would be:

As the result will effect everyone, how do we all pull together to ensure Brexit has the best chance of success. If after giving it our best shot Brexit has not made the UK better off then maybe we all need to realise its necessary to rethink.

Here's how: get right wing tory papers to distract leavers or sell any deal as a 'triumph '. Go for soft Brexit. Most remainers will be happy with it and most leavers will be happy as well. Sorted.

Johnson's views of democratic voting are shown by the way he brought Zac Goldsmith into government
even though the electorate rejected him as an MP

Johnson may well unite the country but not in a god way

It's interesting how leavers are already laying the groundwork for blaming remainers for Brexit not being successful. We all have to "get behind Brexit" somehow (it's not entirely clear to me what that would involve, not pointing out the negatives perhaps?)

Brexit is not some sort of sentient being which can be negatively (or positively) impacted by the feelings of the population. If it has objective benefits it will be successful, if not it won't be. I can't see how we all feel about any of it will make the blindest bit of difference.

The EU set out its trading position over three years ago.
It has not changed since.
However the UK has danced around like the man in the Guinness ad
and has still not laid out a coherent strategy

If by interesting you mean worrying sunshine I completely agree

The EU set out its trading position over three years ago. It has not changed since

So it will be a WTO from 1 Jan 2021.

"If after giving it our best shot Brexit has not made the UK better off then maybe we all need to realise its necessary to rethink."

There is no "rethink ". This is it.

There is no "rethink ". This is it

But how long is the timeframe before that takes place? Everyone remembers the JRM forecast of 50 years before full benefits, but are voters prepared to wait that amount of time? Only the younger voters in 2016 will be around then.

Can already hear the script of whoever is in government at the time:

"Remainers did not give Brexit long enough to take effect"

Remember that whilst Article 49 has a mechanism to rejoin, acceptance is subject to meeting whatever the EU criteria is at the time of the application and approval of all EU members.

If UK has gone to the wall due to Brexit, what are the chances of a successful application to rejoin? Even if EU accepted would the terms be the same or less favourable to the UK. Later is more likely. Then you will hear the next script:

Because remainers did not give Brexit enough time UK has rejoined the EU on rubbish terms

Don't give a shit. It's up to Brexiteers to make this work and convince us all that it was a great idea.

Don't give a shit

Hahaha

It's up to Brexiteers to make this work and convince us all that it was a great idea

More accurate to say the government elected by Brexiteers is responsible as implementation is their task. After all it is government who wil conduct the trade deal negotiations.

Can't imagine there is a meeting room on the planet big enough for 17.4 million to sit around the same table.

The government wasn't elected by Brexiteers. It was elected by people who thought the opposition were so shit and they were so fed up of all the drama. That doesn't make everyone who voted Tory , or at least, who didn't vote Labour , Brexiteers.
Brexiteers are a very select group of gobshites who are desperate not to own their own shit.

It's up to Brexiteers to make this work and convince us all that it was a great idea

Agree, brexitiers are now in power and as you say, there is no rethink.

As Johnson (or anyone else) is not doing a thing for the remain half of the country, there can be no "healing" younger generation in particular feel very aggrieved at brexit.

People were either;

Leavers, remainers or neither as they did not vote in the referendum. Turnout in 2016 was 33.5 million. Turnout in 2019 was just under 32 million.

Make the assumption that the 32 million who voted in 2019 were mostly included in the 33.5 million who voted in 2016 (potentially wrong as some were not old enough in 2016) then if:

The government wasn't elected by Brexiteers

is correct, the government was elected by remainers does it not?

That doesn't make everyone who voted Tory , or at least, who didn't vote Labour , Brexiteers

Bear's point I remember.

Brexiteers are a very select group of gobshites who are desperate not to own their own shit

What's select about 17.4 million? Sound a lot to me.

If people think government is doing a bad job the action is simple - vote them out at the next election.

Agree, brexitiers are now in power and as you say, there is no rethink

Government is in power, not the 17.4 million who voted leave in 2016. On your logic there should be 17.4 million around the negotiating table and in the HoC.

When police charge someone with a crime it is prosecutors task to prove the police suspicions were correct, not the police. Police can be called as witnesses, but that's all they will contribute if case goes to court.

Bellini
It is indeed true that the drop in Labour turnout was the big untold story of the election.
It will be interesting to see how Johnson copes against a competent leader of the opposition.