Boris Johnson at his best. Terrorism speech.

I think that is true, some of the sheer vitriol is breathtaking.

I suggest that you look at some rightwing stuff with leftwing eyes, Jalima. I think you'll find that the 'vitriol' flows in both directions.

And if anyone thinks that what they see on GNet is 'vitriol' then they're leading very sheltered lives.

I have never known a political climate like it where people opposing the Conservative government spew such venom towards anyone who is not left wing.
I think that is true, some of the sheer vitriol is breathtaking. Quite worrying for the future democracy of this country too.

suzied I don't think, if what you say about Boris as Mayor of London is true, that it is unusual. So far I think that this whole mayoral system is a complete waste of taxpayers' money and a shambles.

I heard that too. It’s worrying.

This is what worries me about present left wing opposition. (I was a Labour supporter until Blair.) There seems to be blanket HATRED of anything and anyone not onside. I have never known a political climate like it where people opposing the Conservative government spew such venom towards anyone who is not left wing.
I listened to some University students from Canterbury yesterday, speaking on Radio 4 who said it was far more difficult coming out as a Conservative supporter than coming out as gay.

Bottoms! I like Boris. I like his wicked sense of humour, and cringe at the number of times he manages to put his foot in it - and I missed a good speech? Particularly it seems on a sensitive subject? When/where was it?

Has anyone mentioned forgetting Boris's less praiseworthy actions and attributes? Or May's political failings?

Giving one piece of praise about one thing a person has done is not equal to forgetting everything else about them.

There is no need to swing from one extreme to the other—complete praise and adulation v complete annoyance and dislike. Most people are somewhere in the middle, accepting that everyone has faults and everyone has good points. Even our best leaders in the past, ones who, according to history, achieved loads for the country were, to put it mildly, decidedly imperfect. As are we all.

Everyone agrees Boris gives a good speech. I understand he is amusing at dinner parties too. He does have good qualities. He does get credit where it is due. Doesn’t mean we have to forget his less praiseworthy actions and attributes. Same with TMay I do feel some sort of admiration for her on one level, doesn’t mean I think her “achievements” so far are anything to write home about. I await news of her successes this weekend but I’m not holding my breath.

after the disater that has been Teresa May

That is YOUR opinion paddyann. Her time in office has been one of the most arduous and demanding. As a remainer she is delivering Brexit for the people and I admire her for her unwavering stance on that.

She cannot win because not only is she working with EU politicians who have no appetite for us breaking away, leaving the Union - so there is emnity there and she is also facing the wrath of politicians who want us to stay in the EU.

She doesn't have the support she should have in that now we ARE leaving the EU, we should be looking out for the interests of the UK. Many politicians are more concerned with the EU's stand so the vipers in the nest (who are representing UK constituencies ) are delighting in the hard time she is being given both at home and in Brussels.
Much reporting is also skewed and biased government bashing.

A week in politics is a very long time yet we seem to be picking up on the minutiae of EVERYTHING concerning Brexit, (much of it inconsequential) second by second and the criticism of her comes second by second too.

I have never known a PM have such a gruelling, laborious workload and such a thankless task. I don't know how she sleeps at night. She has my admiration.

None of the ones I read said anything pertinent; they were just slagging Johnson off in who-not-what style without even a smidgeon of reference to what he was saying

Yes, exactly Baggs. I agree with lemon that Boris is better with a speech than he is when improvising, but there is no doubt he is a learned man.

This is what worries me about present left wing opposition. (I was a Labour supporter until Blair.) There seems to be blanket HATRED of anything and anyone not onside. I have never known a political climate like it where people opposing the Conservative government spew such venom towards anyone who is not left wing.

I consider myself a floating voter really. My background makes me Labour but the reality is the party has been hijacked by blinkered people who seem so partisan that they refuse to recognise pulling together and supporting each other and want division. Any politician from any party making the speech Boris made today regarding the way we must look at terrorism would have won my admiration. Sadly...that sort of fairness now seems missing from British politics.

Tories and Labourites used to stand together side by side, drinking together, socialising together, respecting the rights of others to vote as they saw fit. That's gone.

And it's evident here, on this forum, isn't it?

I see Boris has been packed off to Iran to sort out the problems he caused for Nazanin Ratcliffe.

Very convenient that he's out of the way while May is negotiating with Tusk and Foster tonight.

I m with you all the way there Paddtann

after the disater that has been Teresa May ..we have Boris to look forward to.God help us all if he ends up PM ..between him and Trump we can certainly see the end of the world.Seperated at birth? Looks like that to me

Projections, projections, project fear. I’m not a JC fan either, but like many others I think they’d find it hard to do a worse job than the current shower.

wills well you’re certainly not in a contributing anything useful but I’ll just make personal attacks mood tonight

While I was listening to the speech I read a few of the comments that popped up alongside. None of the ones I read said anything pertinent; they were just slagging Johnson off in who-not-what style without even a smidgeon of reference to what he was saying.

I think one can appreciate a speech a person makes and find amusing certain unrelated detractions that are cited about that person without being a fan.

I'm not a fan of any current politician that I know of.

Just called being realistic suzied

Is that an impact assessment lemon? We all know what they’re worth!

He- he ... maryliza-something-or other and whitewave living up to expectations. Give us a break girls, and change the record.
I'm in a particularly combative mood tonight

I will now give my naughty self a slap on the wrist for introducing the C word into this thread......sorry!

Am very tempted to say ( so I will) that if Corbyn and friends got into power any time soon, that his vanity projects, idealogical dogma and poor decisions could cost this country much more than that!

His vanity projects, ideological dogma and poor decisions cost Londoners over £900 m- just looked it up. That’s without all the promises on housing, not closing fire stations etc which were never kept. Still, I’m sure his fans won’t care about his record if he can give a good speech and speak a bit of Latin. Let’s hope he keeps his word and goes to Iran to help release that poor woman in prison.

I have heard him speak well and sensibly before now, but too often , when unprepared, he says things that probably shouldn’t be said. He is intelligent and has some charm, but
Needs to stick to the script.
I suppose that we shouldn’t wish all our Ministers and MP’s to be too bland though.
T May promoted him when she didn’t have to, so must rate him highly.

The speech I heard was quite simple with comments it would be hard to disagree with, maybe there's more I missed. I'm not keen on Boris but I think he's like Marmite - love him or hate him - hence being elected twice as London Mayor.