Lesson in diplomacy for Brexit Boris

I usually use surnames when talking about people like politicians or indeed others with whom I'm not acquainted, provided it is clear about who is being discussed.
However if I know them personally I use either both names or Mr or Mrs etc.

Yes in real life Boris Johnson is popular he was the leading figurehead for Brexit.

As always a few on here hate anyone who supported Brexit.

His first name is Alexander. That would be confusing.
There are other MPs called Johnson, but only one Boris, thank goodness.

Did I just read somone said the BJ man is charming and witty blimey you ll tell me next Mr Trump Is a real gentleman
intelligence doesn't always equate with common sense learning doesn't always equate with knowledge

Too man people on this rant use only surnames of people. Very rude
RoyandSyl I don't think it's rude really; I think at school boys used to be called just by their surnames so it would be something Boris Johnson would find normal. It is probably ruder to call him by his first name unless we actually know him.

cripes

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/23/chevening-house-share-rules-liam-fox-boris-johnson-david-davis

Do you think it will work?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/22/boris-johnson-distances-brexit-donald-trump-isolationism

He seems to have no idea of government policy. He's saying that EU leaders want us to leave quickly, but doesn't even mention May in his speech.
Can't wait for him to say cripes, he's in a mess.

I too find the appointment of BJ as Foreign Sec very strange as he doesn't have much "gravitas" in my opinion (sorry if that's Latin too).
Some one mentioned that Theresa May has removed most of what his job used to cover by hiving off dealing with the EU and trade/business with other foreign countries to other departments, so maybe it is now a much reduced role that BJ can be trusted with.
I don't under-estimate him though. I know that bumbling manner is just an act and that he is extremely clever. He'll master any brief put before him and he'll have to learn diplomacy if he's to succeed. Perhaps that is what Theresa May intended.

I take comfort from the appointment because Gove and Lady MacVine must be tearing their hair out. Wasn't Gove Minister of Justice?!!

He may be charming , witty and likeable if you are sitting next to him at a dinner party. Doesn't make him a good or trustworthy politician. Depends whether you don't mind having an untrustworthy foreign secretary in your real world.

firecracker what is the real world?

That's obviously your totally unbiased opinion then suzied

Jess are you seriously trying to convince us that Boris created the housing crisis in London?

My son went to grammar school and studied Latin. I think Boris is charming and witty, in the real world a lot of people like him.

I would like to reply to JessM. You do not need to be privately educated to learn Latin. I passed my scholarship to go to grammar school where Latin was taught to all of us. Boris Johnson has a really good brain and speaks many languages. Leave him alone and let him get on with his job and life. Too man people on this rant use only surnames of people. Very rude.

Fit, not fir. No edit button.

Boris is very clever, a brlliant writer and, at times, a razor sharp wit. He doesn't care much for fools but it looks as if he is reining in his buffoon act to fir his new role.

Housing crisis on his watch. People on low paid jobs in the centre having to commute over 2 hours each way to do long shifts.
I hesitate to say he should have stuck to journalism because he did a lot of harm IMO as a journalist - going back to when he was a correspondent in Brussels and made up the stories that kicked off europscepticism in the first place (straight bananas etc). Sacked for lying more than once I believe. A reputation for being a liar is not a great trait in a FS.

Appoint the right people? He had 5 deputy mayors all of whom either resigned or were sacked, at least 2 very dodgy, none of the directors/ special advisors lasted for various reasons. He also made quite a mess of a lot of things in London - worse congestion, made worse by his policies, worse air quality etc He didn't manage to negotiate with the RMT and start the night tube which he promised , he promised not to close fire stations, ticket offices , to support rape crisis centres ( all lies) when challenged he just calls everything piffle. Amusing for about 5 minutes, but not sustainable. Could go on, it's well,documented. He was ok at heading up the olympics but he just had to make a few photocalls, funnily enough the transport system worked brilliantly during the olympics, when extra staff taken on, went back to being rubbish afterwards. . Ken Livingstone won the olympics for London not Boris Johnson

I think it's just the Tory way. Hunt (a man who wrote a book on the benefits of privatising the NHS and a supporter of homeopathy) in charge of health. Climate change deniers in charge of the environment. A psychopath in charge of the DWP and another one as minister for the disabled. A financial illiterate in charge of the Treasury. We have to hope that some of her appointments are an improvement but putting people in charge of the last thing they should be in charge of seems to be an approach that hasn't changed much.

Did Boris really make a 'rubbish mayor' of London? He certainly managed to be re-elected so presumably a majority were reasonably happy with him.

I thought his greatest achievement was not to make a mess of things. The avoidance of mistakes is a much underrated quality in a politician.

Most of the problems of London are the downsides of its remarkable success as a world city: housing is expensive because – despite the crash of 2008 – the capital’s economy is booming and a large part of the world’s population wants to live in London; the Tube is crowded for the same reason. No mayor would have been able to build houses and transport infrastructure fast enough to keep up with demand, and Boris's record on both is better than many acknowledge. He was not, of course, responsible for the strength of London’s economy, but neither did he get in its way.

And how many could have carried off with such aplomb his descent into the Olympics?

His other strength is to appoint the right people for the rght jobs. Give him a chance before you knock him. Theresa May doesn't strike me as one who suffers fools gladly and she knows him far better than any of us.

He might be able to knock out a newspaper column in a couple of hours, doesn't mean to say he'll be a good foreign secretary. He's had to give up the 250k p. a. for his column now. He was a rubbish mayor of London, told lies, bluffed his way out of trying to justify them. A good journalist doesn't necessarily make a good politician , unless you expect them both to make things up. His gaffes will be closely monitored and he knows it.

Just a point alison - I've heard he's not going to be able to produce the book,on Shakespeare and will have to return the monies already paid to him on this.

But on the whole I think there's a lot more to Boris that people realise.

Boris didn't come from a sheltered background, in fact the family were quite poor initially. I have met him and have a high regard for him too. He will do a brilliant job as foreign secretary, so will people stop being so negative about everyone on this page and start being a bit more positive about the future. very boring reading all these negative remarks. Thank goodness we are getting out of a super state of Europe - can't wait.
You might want to read some of Boris's books, which are excellent. he has a book on Shakespeare out in October. And don't please carp on about where does he get the time etc etc - he has been asked that many a time and explains that he writes quickly and spends most of his Sundays writing for the week ahead.
Teresa may will have appointed him because he grasps things very quickly, has a global view and is much liked.

Sorry on my high horse, but stop running Boris down.

Alison

Oh no I think they knew they were backing a winner but also someone who would fit nicely into their plans. Of course she may turn on them at some point she's got Maggie as a role model!

Personally I think it was the back room boys in the Conservative party who got Leadsome to drop out and told Theresa she could be PM as long as she gave their mate Boris an important job and sent Gove to the Back benches to learn his lesson. But then I've always believed in the old boy's network.
I am sure it exists trisher, but I would not under-estimate Theresa May myself.

I studied Latin to 'A' level at a state school too.
We also made up our own language called 'Dog Latin' - perhaps Boris was using that as many people didn't seem to understand him.
We could speak it very fast and those 'in the know' could understand us perfectly.

John Kerry is obviously a diplomat!!