How did we get BoJo as PM on Channel 4

I thought it was interesting listening the various people involved. It was no surprise he got there in the end. Why? I think because he stood out as being completely different bonkers from anyone else.

People all over my twitter timeline were screaming how truly dreadful he is, citing so many examples from his past career and of his complete lack of morals. But, of course, not all the electorate is on twitter

I think he got a lot of help from the right wing Brexit supporting (and most read) media. There was very little criticism of him in the press.

There was zero criticism of him initially from the media nor his colleagues. Strange given that he was known to them initially as a journalist, the Mayor of London and as Foreign Secretary.

However, he was able to use his (alleged) “charm”, his facade of bumbling, yet good hearted loveable rogue!

It didn’t take long though did it for his veneer to wear off!

I met him when he was Mayor of London. I was an Olympic Games maker volunteer, he came across as charming and funny, but that was just a snapshot.

I find it concerning that our press collude in allowing these dangers self absorbed , dishonest public figures to be seen in a positive light, rather than a more honest reflection
The other concern is the inability some people have to see what’s under their nose

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Just turn a blind eye.

There was zero criticism of him initially from the media

There was criticism.

Johnson was elected leader of the Tory party on 23 July 2019.

Max Hastings writing for The Guardian 24 June 2019:

I was Boris Johnson’s boss: he is utterly unfit to be prime minister ...The Tory party is about to foist a tasteless joke upon the British people. He cares for nothing but his own fame and gratification ...

I have a hunch that Johnson will come to regret securing the prize for which he has struggled so long, because the experience of the premiership will lay bare his absolute unfitness for it ...

Almost the only people who think Johnson a nice guy are those who do not know him ...

As it is, the Johnson premiership could survive for three or four years, shambling from one embarrassment and debacle to another, of which Brexit may prove the least ... a tasteless joke upon the British people ... will not find it funny for long.

... and more of the same:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/24/boris-johnson-prime-minister-tory-party-britain

Johnson announced his intention to resign on 7 July 2022 - four years after he was elected to lead the party - but the game was up long before that.

We were warned.

I didn’t watch it, I watched Big Brother instead

But how many people read the Guardian, TinSoldier?

I do, but we Guardian readers are massively outnumbered by readers of the RW press.

I was interested in what made him the type of person he became.

I hadn't realised he had had hearing problems when he was a child, which probably set him apart from his siblings and other children at school.
Neglectful parents? Surely they should have taken him to a specialist?

No wonder he has problems having a father like Stanley.

Callistemon21

I was interested in what made him the type of person he became.

I hadn't realised he had had hearing problems when he was a child, which probably set him apart from his siblings and other children at school.
Neglectful parents? Surely they should have taken him to a specialist?

No wonder he has problems having a father like Stanley.

Yes. You know me (or not!), I always try to see good in everyone if I can.
There were some quite poignant comments:
he never thought himself attractive (so he adopted the messy image)
he never felt loved (so he looked for adulation from the public)
someone said he was kindness personified over personal issues they were having

I think tonight's episode about his political downfall will show that he really wasn't the right person to have as PM.

I thought the funniest bit last night was David Cameron's bemused expression. He just couldn't compete. My MP was for years Iain Duncan Smith, he interviewed well in the episode on Boris' personality.

maddyone

I didn’t watch it, I watched Big Brother instead

Probably not a lot to choose between them!

I think tonight's episode about his political downfall will show that he really wasn't the right person to have as PM.

I think a lot of us decided that years ago. I don't think we need a TV documentary to explain it to us

I wonder if it will convince any of his admirers, though

Didn't watch it but I do have a friend who still thinks he was badly treated and took the blame for everything. She'd have him back as PM.

Will you watch tonight's, MaizieD? Did you watch last night's? I don't need to watch it to know his shortcomings, but the programme was about the type of person, politics aside, who operates in a certain way. I am not an admirer, but find him rather fascinating.

Well, they did plan to get rid of him once they’d used him to win the election. Still, what does he care. He’s still got his massive pension and protection for life. I did think that he might possibly become ministerial once he was PM but, alas, I was wrong. I can’t bear to watch anything about him, to be honest ( same with Farage and Trump; not forgetting Truss*)
*you think they’d’ve learned wouldn’t you ?

Visgir1

I met him when he was Mayor of London. I was an Olympic Games maker volunteer, he came across as charming and funny, but that was just a snapshot.

I think he probably is charming and amusing in person. But you need rather more than that to be a successful PM.

Callistemon21

I was interested in what made him the type of person he became.

I hadn't realised he had had hearing problems when he was a child, which probably set him apart from his siblings and other children at school.
Neglectful parents? Surely they should have taken him to a specialist?

No wonder he has problems having a father like Stanley.

I don’t feel at all sorry for him! His sister seems ok, not sure about his brother. His mother seems long suffering and his father is abysmal, but as an adult one cannot keep on blaming one’s parents for shortcomings.

I read a really interesting statement some years ago from one of his old house masters from Eton (?) pretty sure it was Eton! He stated,
Writing of him in a school report in April 1982, he said: “Boris really has adopted a disgracefully cavalier attitude to his classical studies . . . Boris sometimes seems affronted when criticised for what amounts to a gross failure of responsibility (and surprised at the same time that he was not appointed Captain of the School for next half): I think he honestly believes that it is churlish of us not to regard him as an exception, one who should be free of the network of obligation which binds everyone else.”

Says it all really!

Cossy

Callistemon21

I was interested in what made him the type of person he became.

I hadn't realised he had had hearing problems when he was a child, which probably set him apart from his siblings and other children at school.
Neglectful parents? Surely they should have taken him to a specialist?

No wonder he has problems having a father like Stanley.

I don’t feel at all sorry for him! His sister seems ok, not sure about his brother. His mother seems long suffering and his father is abysmal, but as an adult one cannot keep on blaming one’s parents for shortcomings.

I read a really interesting statement some years ago from one of his old house masters from Eton (?) pretty sure it was Eton! He stated,
Writing of him in a school report in April 1982, he said: “Boris really has adopted a disgracefully cavalier attitude to his classical studies . . . Boris sometimes seems affronted when criticised for what amounts to a gross failure of responsibility (and surprised at the same time that he was not appointed Captain of the School for next half): I think he honestly believes that it is churlish of us not to regard him as an exception, one who should be free of the network of obligation which binds everyone else.”

Says it all really!

How wrong was his House Master then about his cavalier attitude to his Classics studies then? I saw Boris on TV once and he was reeling off something in Ancient Greek and it was lengthy and he did so with gusto. One of Boris’ enemies even said he took his hat off to him for that because it would have been many years ago that he learned that.

Learning something off by heart is not the same as understanding it, or being able to translate from English into Ancient Greek! Those take a bit more intensive work.

Wheniwasyourage

Learning something off by heart is not the same as understanding it, or being able to translate from English into Ancient Greek! Those take a bit more intensive work.

It also doesn’t change the fact that Johnson had an appalling attitude even then and seemed to think rules didn’t apply to him. That was my point!

Wheniwasyourage

Learning something off by heart is not the same as understanding it, or being able to translate from English into Ancient Greek! Those take a bit more intensive work.

Here you go …… if he didn’t understand what he was saying he would not be able to recite all this in such an entertaining and expressive way.

youtu.be/VzJQ0TcBmqU?si=ZqdqNn5ToOrbSDVp

He does speak several languages fluently as well.

Does it hurt you so much to give credit where it’s due? 🤔

What other languages does he speak fluently?
I have heard him try speaking French and it was painful.

I think some of the problem comes from his desire to seek recognition and self worth, but going about it in the wrong manner. It was weird during his campaigns how many times he was shown to have said to the camera, "What do you want me to say?"
And all the swearing at the plant on his desk in Brussels?
I think the childhood trauma had a huge effect on him.