Can you think of a Prime Minister worse than Johnson?

I've just had an email from my New Zealander friend who says "I really feel for you with your government"

I think Boris is just a bumbling idiot - appears to make things up as he goes along. "Trump-esq" - ok I made that up but I think rather apt!!

I am just re-reading Tim Shipman's All Out War about the Brexit campaign. It is even more interesting second time round as a lot of the people, such as Cummings, have become more prominent since it was written.
I found Gove's views on Johnson illuminating.
'Boris is incapable of focusing on serious issues and has no gravitas. The whole Boris routine will wear thin with the electorate very quickly if he became PM. And he can't make tough decisions.'

Westendgirl your French friends obviously believe the media. I think Boris is very far from a buffoon. I have some French friends who are very pro UK.

I suspect that these reported differences in foreign perceptions of the UK are very much down to the fact that birds of a feather flock together.

This topic has come up on and off ever since the 24th June 2016. Invariably the Leavers said they had European friends who were cheering us on while Remainers' European friends were shaking their heads in utter disbelief. (The ridicule crept in later)

The names Blair and Brown come to mind

That's strange Jabberwok as my friends in France have long thought Johnson was a buffoon of the worst order.

I agree Gajahgran . We have quite a few friends in Europe particularly France and the Netherlands, none of whom are laughing at us, if anything they're more horrified at the way our media is constantly trying its best to bring down our elected government and sabotage the trade talks. Our Dutch friends wish that their P.M was as tough as ours with the Commission. Of course he can't be as the Netherlands is so small and powerless and has to do as it's told.

What a strange post, Calendargirl

I don't understand why you should question Lucca's son's feelings on the grounds that he is 'living abroad'.

Are you saying that living outside the country of your birth and upbringing means that you must excise all the feelings you had about it?
Or are you implying that by traitorously abandoning his birth country he has forfeited all rights to any feelings about it? It's none of his business?

Or are you just unable to understand that old attachments might persist even though one is not directly involved any more?

Whitewave I think the problem is the media. We are constantly drip fed negativity through the media it is very damaging and usually political. When you actually talk to people abroad the picture is very different. The constant negativity is very damaging to health especially when people have been in isolation.

Then you haven’t been looking at foreign media gajahgran

Well Lucca I also have many contacts worldwide and we are definitely not the laughing stock. We need to stop talking down our own country.

Don’t want to be rude Lucca, but if your son lives abroad, why is he heartbroken about what is happening in the UK?

Does it affect him?

Oh I forgot to add again I am not a “loony leftie”....just a disillusioned British citizen.

Excellent post Graycat. I’m afraid we are a laughing stock, I have heard this from my own contacts abroad and from others with friends in other countries. My son lives abroad and tells me he is heartbroken at what is happening to the UK. Those who think it’s all fine are in denial.

I don't know what you are talking about Graycat. Nobody could have predicted this pandemic. You seem to blame Boris for it. Do you not realise it came from China. Why do you try to link it with Brexit.

I am proud to be British. We are not the laughing stock of the World what on earth do you mean.

Agree with you graykat

I feel the same way greycat and shame doesnt even cover it I'm afraid
I'm actually truly ashamed to be English.

There seem to be very few MPs actually in the House of Commons. I would have thought it would still be relatively safe with a few more present.

Spot on....

Here here graykat

graykat my sentiments exactly

No, I can't think of a worse PM. I am ashamed of my country and broken-hearted that it has become the laughing stock of the world. An arrogant, elitist, superior toff has conned the country into believing his empty soundbites and Latin drivel. Now we have people dying in their thousands and a catastrophic no-deal Brexit in the offing. The people are divided, the economy is tanking and will get worse, the stability of Europe is under threat and climate change is being ignored. All because this spoilt oaf wanted to be PM. He has no leadership skills, no integrity, no vision, no sense of responsibility. He has ruined this country for my children and grandchildren by appealing to the worst in people.

Isn't that more or less what they have been doing, Eloethan?

Couldn't there by some sort of compromise?

It seems unsafe for them all to attend because there is enough space for them to distance properly. However, why don't they set up some sort of rota whereby a certain number from each party attend and some participate online?

I do think it is important to have some sort of presence in the House of Commons. Online communications are not that straight forward, and this government needs to be monitored properly because so far its handling of the crisis has been unsatisfactory.