Is Johnson getting bored?

I can see both sides here. Flooding does affect all strata of society. As with most things, those at the top will recover more quickly. A virus is indiscriminate but overcrowding, no access to basics must make some groups more vulnerable. On my mind are the tens of thousands of displaced people turning up, for example at the Greek border.

What Jura2 said upthread - I think he's not so much bored as realising he's bitten off more than he can chew. The times I've seen him answering questions about anything lately (not necessarily flooding of coronavirus) he seems to be floundering and relying on waffle to get him through.

I stand by my assertion that flooding and coronavirus do not mostly affect the poor, as they do not discriminate. And MaizieD trisher's comment do you realy imagine that people who can afford their own yacht are going to be found on an overcrowded cruise ship, is redefining poor Are you also of the opinion that the poor are more at risk of the virus and flooding? I really don't think either of you would sanction such "fluidity" of definition in other circumstances. I'll use any truthful argument as a stick to beat Johnson with, but to try to use a virus and flooding defeats sane debate in my opinion.

I think:

1) that trisher used the word 'funny' in its sense of 'odd', 'peculiar'. (That's how I read it, anyway)

2) She's not redefining 'poverty' as it is generally understood, just trying to explain how the wealthy government ministers, and their donors, regard it. After all, a PM who states that he can't manage on £141,000 pa seems to have a very different view of what constitutes 'poverty' from how most of us would see it.

janipat there is nothing in my post that doesn't hold up. You may not think you are poor, but I bet BJ does and he knows he doesn't have to consider those people for 5 years. The rich of course he has to smooze for the party.

And I think one of the funniest things is that people who voted for BJ imagined he was somehow going to make people more equal, when he has always been a privileged toff. I agree with the point about his indifference but I don't find it funny, just very, very sad.
trisher you really are stretching it now with this new definition of poor. You wouldn't allow for it in so many other situations we debate on these boards. Compared to the very richest in this country 99% of us would be poor Why not admit you made an emotive statement that really doesn't hold up? Trying to gild the lily adds nothing to sensible debate.

janipat of course they don't 'discriminate' but do you realy imagine that people who can afford their own yacht are going to be found on an overcrowded cruise ship, or sweeping out flood water from their home? You see that's the problem with thinking because you manage and live a comfortable life your life is somehow comparable with the rich. You might have problems self isolating, they wouldn't. You might have your home flooded, they have other places they can live if one of their properties is. Compared with them we are the poor. And that's who Johnson is governing for (or rather not governing but pimping for the Conservative party while Cummings governs)
And I think one of the funniest things is that people who voted for BJ imagined he was somehow going to make people more equal, when he has always been a privileged toff.

You don’t go around sacking permanent secretaries without consequences I think Patels days are numbered. The civil service is there to advise ministers how to administer policy, what is possible and practical when changes are proposed.

An example might be. If changes in immigration policy are proposed, does this compromise citizen/human rights that the courts would overrule?.

No idea if that is the problem but it’s a good candidate.

I wish! Even if I wouldn't waste it on that . I don't follow how your statement referred to them though, you've said both the virus and flooding mostly affect poor people and I don't see that at all. Both don't discriminate.

janipat the people attending the Conservative Winter Party are the people I am talking about. They don't worry about things lke flooding or even the Corona virus and compared with them most of us are poor. Of course I may be wrong and you might be able to afford £90,000 for a tennis match.

I despise Johnson, am absolutely sure that Cummings is pulling his strings, and leading this country to hell in a handcart, so there is no need for statements such as As for flooding and the Corona virus, well they will mostly affect poor people and he's got another 5 years before he has to face them again. Do you have a link to evidence of these statements trisher? I suppose all those people on cruise ships, holidays in Italy etc were absolutely destitute? As far as I'm aware coronavirus doesn't discriminate, and floodwater doesn't deviate around homeowner homes. That a state of emergency hasn't been declared about the flooding is disgraceful, but it doesn't help to misrepresent the situation.

The person who has resigned is the permanent secretary at the Home Office

This is an absolutely top civil service post. The implications are serious. We also have one of Javid's sacked spads going to an industrial tribunal over her dismissal.

Who'll put money on Boris's no. 1 fan now posting something about these people being Remainers and, hooray, the swamp is being drained?

I'm just surprised that anyone thinks he will be busy working to fulfil his commitment to the electorate. This is a man who is lacking in any such thing. He can't even remember how many kids he has fathered and yet they believe he is working for them!

Oh Urms you do make me laugh with your worship of Boris.

Yep - it seems like a toxic environment is being allowed to flourish by an ineffectual PM.

The person who has resigned is the permanent secretary at the Home Office and he will sue for constructive dismissal citing the appalling treatment of civil servants by Pritti Patel.

JUST the wrong time to have a crap government too. I hope Cummings has some idea about what to do. How the hell would we know, given that he didn't have to go through the electoral process.

Cunco - it’s not the job of the opposition party to halt their leadership campaign to order to advise the incumbent PM and his cabinet on how to put emergency plans on place. You’re well aware of that, of course.

I agree trisher, he really doesn’t give a toss as it doesn’t affect him - he got the votes and no he can kick back and let someone else get on with the job of prime ministering. I see that one of their top blokes has just resigned and is now pursuing a constructive dismissal claim. There’s too much of this at the moment - it could get very interesting.

If anyone believes he is actually doing any planning or organising they are labouring under a delusion. He's passed all that over to Cummings. He's busy smoozing rich supporters for the Conservatives. As for flooding and the Corona virus, well they will mostly affect poor people and he's got another 5 years before he has to face them again.and in the words of Mr Micawber "Something will turn up!".

I think that the government are way behind the curve with the handling of the virus. People are looking to the net for information. Which is why there's so much misinformation. Something has to fill the vacuum.

SirChenjin Yes indeed; and we have had so many underperforming politicians in recent years. As we move into a possible State of Emergency, it is rather disconcerting that our opposition parties are busy in interminable procedures to find leaders to replace two of their own.

For government, it is a fine line between keeping business going and dealing with a threat of unknown proportions. It would be for any government. Yah, boo, hiss just doesn't cut it for me.

I would have expected there to have been a plan in place well before now - or at least an attempt by this Govt to be seen to be taking it seriously. Yah, boo, hiss is what rightly happens to underperforming politicians - it’s called looking beyond the bluster and bluff and holding them to account for their actions (or lack thereof).

cupafful He has a Chancellor to that - if only he'd let him get on with his job.

The role of Prime Minister is to be leader. People need to trust him and he needs to be visible and inspire people.

Did anybody actually believe he has linguistic skills?

Greymar There is plenty of guidance about coronavirus. It may not be clear or convincing but that is because there are no clear and convincing answers.

We will be in a better position to judge whether Johnson has been productively employed next week when, it is reported, the government will reveal plans for a State of Emergency should that be required.

It would be good, if a State of Emergency is what we face, if politicians would work together until it passed. I suspect that will not happen. I hope I am wrong but whatever is said next week, I suspect it will still be the same yah, boo, hiss.

We were constantly told how very clever BJ is. Although his alleged linguistic skills appear to be fake. He is so super intelligent, he doesn't need to declare flooding a disaster and put in centralised plans to help people. He is so super intelligent he doesn't need to give clear guidance and lead on the COVID19 situation.