Boris Johnson on Sky

[tabbycatstripy]

Johnson “sad” about the reaction from LGBT groups, says he’s 100% committed to a ban on gay conversion therapy, but there complexities and sensitivities about the area of gender, and he thinks there are things that need to be worked out.

Determined to tackle prejudice.

Re. trans conversion therapy, it wasn’t something he thought he would have to consider in great detail. These are novel concepts. He doesn’t think it’s reasonable for kids to be deemed Gillick competent in trans treatments. He doesn’t think males should be competing in female sports. Women should have spaces which are dedicated to women.

That’s as far as his thinking has developed, and if it puts him in conflict with others, he wants to work it out. Is sympathetic to transitioners. But these are complex issues and it takes thought to get it right.

I can't help wondering what Carrie thinks of his views on this. I thought she was pro the Stonewall agenda?

Xalo - you are right. Moral high ground and having to take no responsibility for anything. Labour would have been like Sturgeon if they had been in charge during the pandemic. She loves controlling her people and having the government tell them what to do.

I dont agree with some of what this government have done, the parties were shameful, but the buying of vaccinations from different companies was a brilliant idea. Media coverage to get everyone jabbed was good too. What I dont think should have happened is that we shut the schools but the teachers were so miliant, phases such as teachers going to their deaths etc meant that the government had no choice.

Haven’t seen Carrie for a while. I think it became obvious she was a vote loser for the PM and she’s been sent to live in a yurt. I’m sure it’s very swanky, though.

LOJ is off his starting block, running full-speed into saying Johnson is weaponising the stigma against a minority (by saying women deserve spaces for women, people shouldn’t have an unfair advantage in sports, and we shouldn’t put children on sex-change hormones).

@tabbycatstripy

Someone wrote on Twitter, ‘He was coherent and honest during that clip. Very unlike him.’

Easy to forget he’s a very successful politician who has (when he can bothered to use them and is sober) excellent faculties and first-class powers of persuasion.

He is a very successful politician and an accomplished liar!

I really don’t trust him on this to be honest. I don’t trust him with anything.

I remember seeing him on many occasions showing himself to seem to talk sense - he’s very good at playing to the crowd and is playing to it now. Better to watch his actions.

As he is currently the PM, what exactly is he doing now to protect womens rights?

But either way, as he’s prepared to let children grow up in poverty- that is my red line. (Because I grew up in poverty under thatcher), so I have to chose that issue over this one.

Well said, Boris.

What I dont think should have happened is that we shut the schools but the teachers were so miliant, phases such as teachers going to their deaths etc meant that the government had no choice

Actually that’s incorrect. Teachers wanted schools to be safe and the government didn’t ensure that would happen. They didn’t have decent measures in place.

I think, if nothing else, BJ is populist and politically savvy. He can see all the other parties are making a dogs dinner of this issue and so he's being clear about his position just as he was over Brexit. He's making Starmer and the rest of them look like idiots and coming from Boris that's saying something.

I've always voted Lib Dem or Green. Have spoilt my paper at the last couple of elections. This might edge me over the line to vote Tory.

I thought he handled it really well.
I am so pleased to hear some common sense at last!

Labour have totally lost my vote.
They have made themselves look completely incompetent.

@lakeswimmer

I think, if nothing else, BJ is populist and politically savvy. He can see all the other parties are making a dogs dinner of this issue and so he's being clear about his position just as he was over Brexit. He's making Starmer and the rest of them look like idiots and coming from Boris that's saying something.

I've always voted Lib Dem or Green. Have spoilt my paper at the last couple of elections. This might edge me over the line to vote Tory.

Be careful though. What he said about Brexit vs what he actually did about Brexit were two very different things.

He didn’t have a ready made deal, he ended up with a worse version and so much is not yet done! He’s managed to cock up the relationship with the EU such that they don’t trust us anymore.

So I would tread carefully with him.

‘But either way, as he’s prepared to let children grow up in poverty- that is my red line. (Because I grew up in poverty under thatcher), so I have to chose that issue over this one.’

I’d like to, but I can’t. Children ending up infertile, unable to orgasm and with serious bone disorders (plus unknown other consequences), then being encouraged to have healthy parts of their bodies removed is my line. We can do so much better than this for the bisexual, gay, neuro-divergent, bullied kids who are presenting with gender distress.

Poverty sucks. But first do no harm.

@tabbycatstripy

LOJ is off his starting block, running full-speed into saying Johnson is weaponising the stigma against a minority (by saying women deserve spaces for women, people shouldn’t have an unfair advantage in sports, and we shouldn’t put children on sex-change hormones).

Ah, OJ. How is the right side of history these days?

@Sidneysussex

If voting Boris can stop children being given damaging medical treatment. So be it. This issue is absolutely massive for women but most of us will not even acknowledge that trans rights can affect women's rights and safety. If Boris is brave enough to address this which is more than anyone else has i will back him. In reality taxes ect will be equally horrific whichever party wins. But this could be something the Tories start to address. I didn't expect to ever say anything positive about Boris but in this case, yep well done.

I feel exactly the same. I've never been a fan of Boris Johnson but he is spot on about this and the Conservative candidate will be getting my vote at the next election.

I voted Labour/Lib Dem/Green all my life and was a fully paid up '(Manchester) Guardian reading leftie' like my dad and his dad before him. I hate what identity politics and gender ideology has done to left/ centre-left politics.

Over the last decade the left has willingly allowed itself to be divided more and more until I'm not even sure what they stand for anymore but it sure as hell isn't anything resembling a grown up, political party with a strong cohesive message. They are an embarrassment and the Lib Dems and Greens are now just as bad.

Rant over :)

www.bbc.com/sport/61012030

'Prime Minister Boris Johnson says transgender women should not compete in women's sport'

‘Labour/Lib Dem/Green all my life and was a fully paid up '(Manchester) Guardian reading leftie' like my dad and his dad before him. I hate what identity politics and gender ideology has done to left/ centre-left politics.’

Same. Always Labour. But I won’t vote for child abuse and female erasure.

@tabbycatstripy

‘But either way, as he’s prepared to let children grow up in poverty- that is my red line. (Because I grew up in poverty under thatcher), so I have to chose that issue over this one.’

I’d like to, but I can’t. Children ending up infertile, unable to orgasm and with serious bone disorders (plus unknown other consequences), then being encouraged to have healthy parts of their bodies removed is my line. We can do so much better than this for the bisexual, gay, neuro-divergent, bullied kids who are presenting with gender distress.

Poverty sucks. But first do no harm.

Poverty sucks. But first do no harm

Fucking hell. What an absolute nasty thing to say as if poverty does no harm?! More children are affected by poverty than by transition so yes, it’s more important to me. Having to grow up where my biggest issue was whether we had any food in the house and not wanting others to experience that is very important.

And I don’t think that the Tories and Labour are that far apart. The Tories are split on this too - you just don’t hear about it as much.

People are so desperate to hear a politician say what they’re thinking, that they’re not stepping back and thinking who is saying them.

Boris cannot be trusted as far as you can throw him so I really don’t know why on earth you believe him now.

It’s a bit sad to see the lack of critical thinking.

God - I hope the Opposition Parties are taking note of all of this. I am no Labour voter but I really want a strong opposition. Corbyn and all were just such a waste of space it gave Boris the gap to clean up.

So now we have Starmer and he was been a disappointment (unless someone thinks he is doing well) and no one in the background ready to step in. Conservatives have quite a few back ups and will dump Boris if he wont win the next election for them.

Where is a Tony Blair equiviliant when you need them?? That sort of personality is the only way IMHO of course that Labour have any chance of gaining some ground. They wont win the next election.
At this rate they will be out of power for the next 10 years +

OJ has just finally blocked me for posting this in response to that tweet :

Failing to meet the safeguarding needs of women and children is never a vote winner.

He's not even pretending this is about trans rights anymore. Women and children don't need safeguarding.

‘Fucking hell. What an absolute nasty thing to say as if poverty does no harm?! More children are affected by poverty than by transition so yes, it’s more important to me.’

It’s not nasty. I grew up in poverty. But first, we have a responsibility not to actively harm people. That is my opinion and I’m sorry you find it nasty.

@tabbycatstripy

‘Fucking hell. What an absolute nasty thing to say as if poverty does no harm?! More children are affected by poverty than by transition so yes, it’s more important to me.’

It’s not nasty. I grew up in poverty. But first, we have a responsibility not to actively harm people. That is my opinion and I’m sorry you find it nasty.

Er

Poverty is actively harming people 🤨 it’s nasty to think otherwise.

And given the Conservative party have been in power for 12 years what makes you think a few warm words from Boris Johnson is going to address the issues?

He is a known liar.

How do you know he isn’t lying about this just to get your vote…..

I’m not going to have an argument about it. I’ve given my view. You vote with your conscience, I’ll vote with mine.

The LGBT group at my work is having a go about the conversion ban and the cancelled conference. Quoting Stonewall and directing people to a letter template on Mermaids' website. There is no hope for me. I have a lovely stripy lanyard I'm going to wear to the office tomorrow...

As he is currently the PM, what exactly is he doing now to protect womens rights?

Stating that women are entitled to spaces / services / sporting competition separate from men is a good start. It’s frustrating that the tories haven’t acted on the issue in relation to women’s prisons. That is something they could do something about now and they haven’t. But at least they have put the brakes on the active dismantling of women’s rights and they are beginning to listen to people’s concerns around protecting children.

It’s a canny move really. They are unlikely to lose any tory voters by putting clear blue water between themselves and labour on this issue and they are likely to gain a fair few votes from the other side.

So man with record for homophobia, misogyny and racism comes out as transphobic.. I have to be honest, his approval rating has risen from 22% to 30% because of a war elsewhere and can only go downwards now. If this is your flag bearer, I do not feel threatened lol.

Please find the time to answer my question though.

How do you know Boris isn’t lying to get your vote?

He’s lied about so much and even lifted covid restrictions early to try and get out of political hot water.

He lied about Brexit (famously he had two views on it and plumped for the popular option).

How do you know he’s not lying and plumping for the popular option again…..

Given how important this is, why on earth would you take his comments today as gospel?