Boris Johnson never called to account for his constant lies

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Interesting video calling BJ out on some of his lies:
twitter.com/PeterStefanovi2/status/1410709231209271297?s=20

Yet, he is still massively popular? I cannot fathom how anyone with either an IQ above 50 or a conscience could not detest this PoS.

I think we have been so de-sensitised by bad politicians the last 5 years in particular nothing shocks us any more, it's just become expected, like ignoring a rude a teenager because they're hormonal, it's just something we expect now. I think Trump has actually been a big influence even in the UK, I didn't think "pussy gate" would ever happen here, here Trump would have been forced to stand down but now I don't know. Priti Patel working as normal despite breaking ministerial code, Dominic Cummings not sacked for breaking Covid rules, or even Matt Hancock as he wasn't made accountable by the PM.

Nothing shocks us any more, and we let them carry on.

@FifteenToes

There are plenty of honest politicians. On the left as well as Corbyn people like Dennis Skinner, Ian Lavery, Jon Trickett. But also some others - Vince Cable as I said and even some Tories like Kenneth Clarke or John Bercow (ex-Tory now, but precisely because it wasn't possible for him to remain one while also remaining honest).

I wouldn't personally include Keir Starmer after he ran for the Labour leadership as the "non-factional" candidate promising unity, then once in place put the anti-socialist witchhunt into overdrive. But the idea that "they're all the same" is a defeatist, unrealistic and harmful trope.

It's a tough job and even someone with the best of intentions and absolute personal integrity will end up having to make compromises to get anything done. The whole point and structure of the system is to place constraints on people's ideas and intentions by rubbing them up against their opposites.

They may be honest, but still incompetent. Vince Cable was nowhere near competent and just achieved his power by saying the right thing at the right time (like lots of normal people outside politics). He stood out because he said the opposite to most other politicians at the time. He was a nice bloke, but not suitable for high office.

Most of the honest/competent politicians are on the back benches and want to stay there.

The real problem are the "personality" politicians who just want high office. People like Rishi Sunak who are parachuted into safe seats then get ministerial jobs almost as soon as they become MPs.

We'd be better having a required amount of time as an MP before they're allowed to become ministers and a further period before they're allowed to become senior ministers/PM. That would ensure we only got politicians in it for the right reasons achieved high office. We also need to ban "parachuting in" and make all candidates have links to the constituency, i.e. living or working there.

It’s infuriating, depressing and frightening. This government even care when/if they’re caught out telling brazen lies. Politics has always been corrupt but there’s something particularly appalling about this government. Johnson tries to project this cuddly, eccentric, erudite maverick and somehow a heck of a lot of people seem to fall for the act. He’s a self-serving, lying, cheating narcissistic, racist, shambolic idiot without a plan A let alone a plan B at any time. If ever there was a time when the UK really needs someone considered, organised, logical, conscientious, intelligent and with some vestige of a concentration span, now is that time. He is a human wrecking ball along with Patel, Javid, Gove, Sunak and the rest of his motley crew.

@Kazzyhoward -

They may be honest, but still incompetent.

Sure, but that's changing the subject. The OP was specifically about honesty, not any of the other qualities we may want in our politicians as well. I listed a number from different parts of the politicial spectrum knowing that nobody would like all of them, but not wanting to appear like I'm just equating honesty with being left wing, which I'm not.

You're right that we need a better calibre of politician in many ways. A large part of that responsibility must lie with the electorate, however. They're the ones who chose to elect Bozo the clown.

FWIW I think most of the individuals I've mentioned are competent as well as honest.

A huge swathe of the population either believe the lies or are not bothered by them. It’s like a brainwashing is taking place.

Sunak et al ignoring the 3m excluded from Covid support has shown me so many ‘friends’ are taken in. They can’t believe I got no support and I must be lying 🤷🏻‍♀️

@TheDrsDocMartens

A huge swathe of the population either believe the lies or are not bothered by them. It’s like a brainwashing is taking place.

Sunak et al ignoring the 3m excluded from Covid support has shown me so many ‘friends’ are taken in. They can’t believe I got no support and I must be lying 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes brainwashing, thats exactly it. It's like the Trump supporters, they always appear brainwashed.

‘Fake news’

And his example filters down through society. It’s become normalised!

@BajanB

It’s infuriating, depressing and frightening. This government even care when/if they’re caught out telling brazen lies. Politics has always been corrupt but there’s something particularly appalling about this government. Johnson tries to project this cuddly, eccentric, erudite maverick and somehow a heck of a lot of people seem to fall for the act. He’s a self-serving, lying, cheating narcissistic, racist, shambolic idiot without a plan A let alone a plan B at any time. If ever there was a time when the UK really needs someone considered, organised, logical, conscientious, intelligent and with some vestige of a concentration span, now is that time. He is a human wrecking ball along with Patel, Javid, Gove, Sunak and the rest of his motley crew.

This. Agreed as this Alexander Johnson and inner circle gaslighting bubble is waiting to explore. Ponzi scheme multiple level marketing are rarely ever sustainable!

Stay home. Don’t hug relatives. Wear a face mask. Keep 2 m apart.
Boris told us to do this. We all did it. Yes Boris brainwashed us all.

The government is a shit show but I don’t see any real opposition.
Keir Starmer just seems to be a captain hindsight.
Boris didn’t even have the balls to sack Hancock after his kissing escapes.

YY

That NHS bus for a start!

Stuff done with the refendum that broke various rules. It bothers me that the public were lied to over something so important and the result stood.

(This isn't saying the result was wrong etc it's a general point about the principal of being able to lie and break major rules over a big thing and.. well. So what really)

Didn't he lie to the queen to try and get parliament shut early so he could avoid some vote or other? FFS.

@NiceGerbil

YY

That NHS bus for a start!

Stuff done with the refendum that broke various rules. It bothers me that the public were lied to over something so important and the result stood.

(This isn't saying the result was wrong etc it's a general point about the principal of being able to lie and break major rules over a big thing and.. well. So what really)

Didn't he lie to the queen to try and get parliament shut early so he could avoid some vote or other? FFS.

Yes, this isn't an opposition problem. This is a "the majority of the voters don't care" problem.

Part of the issue is the legacy of Putin and Trump - they constantly seeded doubt, showed their contempt for knowledge and expertise, planted conspiracy theories and weren't held to account by the press. There are no facts, only spin. There is no truth so there can be no lying. If you question the leader you are an enemy of the state, and undesirable.

In this scenario manipulative and ruthless people get to the top. They pander only to the mood of the day, a bit like the tabloids. Sometimes it's Brexit, sometimes it's the next lifting of restrictions, sometimes it's "oooh look at the EU" etc.

The problem is that it works. Most voters like it and they came back for more.

Agree re trump etc

Turns out that lots of people admire dishonest, arrogant rich men no matter what they do

Has any Politician ever been accountable for lies? Especially whilst in office, it isn't going to happen.

In the past yes. Or other types of misconduct.

This is a "the majority of the voters don't care" problem.

^^^^^^ True af.

Being human isn't great tbh.

It must be where I live and who I talk to but I don't come across anyone who rates Johnson.

There must be something going on irl because I recall Laura Kuensberg describing him as surprisingly sensitive and shy. 🤷
I'd have been less shocked if she'd said she thought he may be some sort of shape shifting lizard.😂

These threads are tedious.

The problem is NO OPPOSITION - NONE - NADA -
not nice ones, not funny ones, not votable ones just none
Which means it's pointless whingeing about those in power.

You need someone like the American journalist Glenn Kessler, who documented Trump's lies, and kept the count, up to 30,000.