Go, Boris!

I think that, when we're hardly likely to know any prominent politicians personally we can only judge them by things like fidelity etc. In the case of Boris his public persona allied with his private life just makes me think of him as a very self centred, immature person. However, prior to his political ambitions being far greater than I'd imagined I really liked him [HIGNFY appearances etc].But he isn't someone I trust with the leadership of this country. [I also liked Michael Gove when he appeared on BBC Arts programmes but that was before he all but drove my daughter away from teaching].It's a funny thing, political personality. Look at how many Americans despise Obama . I don't particulary 'like' many members of the Labour Party these days, other than Hilary Benn, Dan Jarvis and Dennis Skinner and, of the Conservatives I've never been able to dislike Cameron or John Major [try as I might] and Kenneth Clarke seems to be universally admired by people from all political persuasions, me included.

There is nothing in the article which persuades me that Boris is a good man. Corbyn gets lots of criticism for changing his mind. Boris changed his mind from paper to paper. His Telegraph articles say that we should stay in.

Whatever, Anniebach you keep your idea of what this thread is about and I'll keep mine.

"Just Boris- a tale of blond ambition" by Sonia Purnell is a good biography. It is not a PR job, she doesn't pull her punches, but it helps in understanding the man, his background and his motivation.
His Churchill biography is very good and he writes extremely well, but I felt it could have been "meatier".

No Alea, nothing to do with rules, adultery during two marriages shows a man who I don't consider to be a man of honour or a man to be trusted. I accept people make mistakes but he has had quite a few affairs, one which ended with the abortion of a child

I like Frank Field for the same reason I liked Peter Shaw they just seem to get on with things in their quiet way don't know if Peter Shaw is still an MP.
Liam Fox seems the same way as does Jacob Rees-Mogg.
They all seem honourable men to me.

I think you may be right ( has always had a serious side) but he has always shown the clowning about side, which maybe came about from schooldays, as he seems a likeable person who wants to be liked.Wanting to be liked is natural, but not a good thing for a politician( or in business) when you need to get a job done.
Maybe the question is, ' is he too likeable to be a good future PM'?
He did look genuinely hurt when Amber Rudd was so nasty in the comment about 'not wanting to be driven home in the car by him'. Just a thought.Maybe he is harder than we think though.I hopse so.

I think he has had a serious side all along—he has written a biography of Churchill, for instance—and I don't think his winning the election for Mayor of London twice was only about his so-called clowning.

An interesting read thatbags I hardly ever look at links but wanted to know more about him.infedelity doesn't worry me with political figures, and it would rule out about three quarters of the country if we did worry about it.
He should have adopted a slightly more serious persona earlier IMHO but does come over a lot better since he has been Mayor.We shall see.

Oh heck, thread monitor time again?
I do not see him as a decent man, a man who can cheat in two wives isn't a good guy

That is a generalisation a comment on the male members of the population of the UK or wherever.

One rule for you, one for me. Right?

Thanks for the link bags. A good article.

Alea, this us a thread about one man not the make population of the UK

I wasn't discussing his politics either, merely trying to counter your accusation that a man who has/has had affairs cannot be regarded as"decent".
Fair enough, let's dismiss everybody who has an affair as incapable of decency then, shall we?

I think he is intelligent, and deliberately brash at times, in order to get the attention he needs. A good orator - we do not have too many of those at the moment. I do not know of any personal details about him, but my instincts tell me that I would not like him as a friend, not that that would cause him any concern!

Alea. same can be said of man in all professions , thatbags didn't wish to discuss him as a polictian

I have long since given up deciding whether a public figure that in reality we hardly know, is "good" or "bad".

Plus which, from a religious point of view, that is judging a person.
Fine to say about approving of someone's behaviour, but that is it.

Very interesting read, thank you thatbags.
Anniebach sadly, when it comes to politicians, marital fidelity doesn't always come high on the list -Asquith, Lloyd George, Wilson, Major amongst no doubt others.

Leaving aside his polics, as a man I do not see him as a decent man, a man who can cheat on two wives isn't a good guy