Boris Broadcast to the Country

Remember reading a book about 'direct translations' which just do not work in practice- applied to business where mis-understandings are often caused in this way.

One example was about 'yes, it can be done in 6 months'

meaning for the Germans 'we are sure it can be done, and 6 months if the maximum limit, probably be done long before'

and the UK meaning 'well it can be done, in a month of sunday with several blue moons, and you'd be very very lucky if we have started in 6 months time.

or words to that effect.

The fact that the UK Government can sign international agreements aka contracts, and then totally renege on them- will not help perception.

vegansrock, I didn’t say “ no one could do better”. I said it would be hard for anyone. I don’t know who Jacinda Aherne is, but Angela Merkel has an easier task simply because she is governing German people, who by definition, are much more disciplined than the British, and before anyone tells me I’m wrong, my husband spent many years working alongside Germans. Their whole outlook is far better than ours, and they are much more likely to obey the law.

Yes, but still the same rubbish.

Some people like clear and concise, others prefer a more human approach.

I do prefer clear and concise myself, that's why I would listen to the scientists.

She’s clear, concise and informative, that’s the different. And also her empathy is believable, unlike a Johnson’s.

but that does go for everyone ( and all political leaders) including the sainted Sturgeon! I once criticised her choice of clothes, a few years ago and all hell broke loose on the thread

I liked the blue suit she wore yesterday.
(How shallow of me)

As DH said: She has nothing better to report than Johnson, it's just that she's a lawyer and he was a Classics scholar. It's all the same rubbish, but presented differently.

CalendarGirl Margaret Thatcher would have been on top of the job like a dose of salts and knock her team into shape at the same time. I didn't always agree with her but by golly she would certainly have been up to the job.

I have a certain amount of sympathy for the present Prime Minister since he has no experience of hard knocks in his life. My father reared his children to understand privilege had a price - and the price a social conscience. How it is interpreted is according to the individual's experience of the reality of life for the majority.

“ If someone spoke the rubbish that he does in a broad local accent such as my own, it would be a different kettle of fish.”

Never thought of that, but I think you have a point! Especially if a Labour PM !!

Should I duck behind the parapet ?

toadinthehole there are plenty of leaders who have done a better job- Angela Merkel, Jacinda Ahern to name but two. So to say no-one could do better is plainly wrong.

Jaxjacky

Oops wrong topic, note to self, pay attention woman.

I did wonder . Hope the veg is going well. I've been pulling out weeds, its very therapeutic.

“We all know” as the start of an argument turns me away from that argument completely. Just because the poster “knows” something, does not mean that the rest of the population, be it the Gransnet or the national population, agree.

We don’t all know or agree that Boris is not up to the job so, a bit less unsubstantiated generalisation, please.

Oops wrong topic, note to self, pay attention woman.

Alegrias ....you obviously have a different view of ‘shocking’ to me.....which is fine.?
We have no need to argue the point in any case, we simply have differing opinions on how public figures should dress and look and our right to comment on them.

Alegrias Regretting ever posting the topic, it was meant to be informative ?
I’ll stick to growing veg!

Lemongrove "How a person looks ( doing their job or not) is up for criticism."

Really? This is so shocking I'm not even going to argue the point. If you don't appreciate why, there is really no point trying to argue it.

Johnson answers sensible parliamentary questions in repetitive gibberish. That he looks like he doesn’t know how to dress himself properly also doesn’t inspire confidence and I think is worthy of comment. I may not like Nicola Surgeon’s hair or clothes but at least she does look like she’s made an effort. We could name plenty who could do a better job but we are stuck with the waffler we’ve got and as such, are entitled to comment on his level of competence.

Alegrias Needless to say, I don’t agree.
How a person looks ( doing their job or not) is up for criticism.
Johnson favours the unmade bed look, when, with a suit and shirt that is fitted properly, and a decent hairstyle ( or even a well brushed look) he would look so much better.
When Corbyn first became LOTO he appeared to be wearing a jacket that would have fitted him if he had put on about 8 stone in weight.Plus untidy looking facial hair.
After quite a long time ( he obviously resisted?) they managed to get him to wear a smart suit and better shirts, plus tidy up the beard.

Oldbat1, re Johnson as an orator.
I absolutely agree. I think that it's just due to his accent.
If someone spoke the rubbish that he does in a broad local accent such as my own, it would be a different kettle of fish.
He is massively, hugely out of his depth.

I thought he was supposed to be a good “orator” - sadly one thing he certainly isn’t. Nicola Sturgeon knows and understands what she delivering - he doesn’t! I didn’t watch it live but read for myself what was said as he can’t deliver (what his speech writers have produced) in a sensible manner.

Toadinthehole

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again....all you Boris bashers, find us someone who IS competent then.

Love to! Sadly there is no way to do that unless you know a way have a change of government ?!
Criticism of government or the prime minister does not always have to be called “Boris bashing “ ....does it ?
Agree with calendargirl that although not a fan of many of her policies I’d have thatcher in charge too !

Alegrias

I'll be flippant, as that seems to be the order of the day.

Over on Mumsnet this morning, there was a thread asking which of the PMs of the last 40 years they would like to have in charge now. Some said Johnson, as is their prerogative. But one had a list of all of the PMs since 1979, then Larry the Cat, then Johnson at the end.

He was voted in as PM. I don't care what he looks like or what his personal life is like, but I want him to be a good PM. But so far, he has shown himself to be incapable. If you take on the role of PM, expect some criticism for your performance.

I would choose Margaret Thatcher to be in charge now.

Furret

Alegrias

Well thanks for your editorial view Elianne, I'm sure the OP will be happy to learn that her thread was a non-starter.

Maybe its a flippant approach to politics that has got us in this mess.

Flippant? On the contrary. I’m sick and tired of commenting on Boris (as PM) and his sound bites, inadequacies and total lack of a basic grasp of the situation.

We all know he’s a bag full of ...sound bites.

We all know that he is not up to the job and neither are the amateurs he picked for his cabinet. You want to keep this thread on track....police it? OK off you go.

It’s all been said before and nothing will change. So hence the dog.

Well, that's me told.

lemongrove

Of course, public figures can be criticised/dissected etc for their performance and delivery, and personal looks....but that does go for everyone ( and all political leaders) including the sainted Sturgeon! I once criticised her choice of clothes, a few years ago and all hell broke loose on the thread?
To answer the OP, Johnson is not articulate when answering off the cuff questions, but performs well when he has a script.
The latest offering from him on tv ( from Westminster) was
Clear and concise with no waffling.You cannot tell in any case,
How much ‘compassion’ a person has from their style of speaking.David Cameron was the ultimate articulate smoothie.....it didn’t make him care any more about the general public as he not only resigned from the PM ship (when he had assured the nation he would steer us in whichever direction the nation voted on) but resigned from being an MP and left his constituency in the lurch.

I mostly agree Lemongrove apart from the part about criticising personal looks. That has no bearing on how a person does their job.

Unless they are a model.

Alegrias

Well thanks for your editorial view Elianne, I'm sure the OP will be happy to learn that her thread was a non-starter.

Maybe its a flippant approach to politics that has got us in this mess.

Flippant? On the contrary. I’m sick and tired of commenting on Boris (as PM) and his sound bites, inadequacies and total lack of a basic grasp of the situation.

We all know he’s a bag full of ...sound bites.

We all know that he is not up to the job and neither are the amateurs he picked for his cabinet. You want to keep this thread on track....police it? OK off you go.

It’s all been said before and nothing will change. So hence the dog.

A stitch in time saves nine

Did he know my mother?
I await more of her sayings in his next speech.

'Never go out with a pin in your underwear' could be the next one.

Of course, public figures can be criticised/dissected etc for their performance and delivery, and personal looks....but that does go for everyone ( and all political leaders) including the sainted Sturgeon! I once criticised her choice of clothes, a few years ago and all hell broke loose on the thread?
To answer the OP, Johnson is not articulate when answering off the cuff questions, but performs well when he has a script.
The latest offering from him on tv ( from Westminster) was
Clear and concise with no waffling.You cannot tell in any case,
How much ‘compassion’ a person has from their style of speaking.David Cameron was the ultimate articulate smoothie.....it didn’t make him care any more about the general public as he not only resigned from the PM ship (when he had assured the nation he would steer us in whichever direction the nation voted on) but resigned from being an MP and left his constituency in the lurch.