Boris Johnson: another photo shoot....

I am offended that the PR team think we will be so impressed by him dashing about from factory to school that we will fail to notice the mess he is making of governance. Or perhaps, a bit like with Trump's advisors, they just like him out of the way to leave the real work to the grown ups?

Maybe he should have a job in a circus!

I would be more interested to discuss the workings behind his media team and his promotion advisors. My DD's friend works for a top politician as an image consultant to enhance his reputation and photo shoots are carefully planned and orchestrated. It's 2020, that's how it works, if they don't do it there are complaints in a different way.

So we're supposed to be rivetted by the way that the propaganda and image making machine works?
What a splendid way to take our minds off our shambolic government and the upcoming disaster of a transition end for which no-one is prepared because the government doesn't know what it's doing yet..

Style over substance. Pathetic

(Though I suppose if it draws people's attention to how thoroughly they are manipulated it has a small benefit...)

Jane10

You think that's bad - up here we've got Nicola on TV every day spouting the usual stuff. It's not made a blind bit of difference to the Covid numbers up here but it's a lovely PP broadcast for the dire SNP. At least Boris only does a press conference once in a while.

Its Jeane today, not Nicola. ? Now you can have a go at her too.

Total cases per million in the UK, 23,145

Total cases per million in Scotland, 16,343

While its not a competition, something must be making the difference.....

There have been so many of these photo opportunities, of Boris in various overalls and hard hats doing bricklaying, serving in a canteen, heaving boxes a factory, lots of schools visited, but the one which sticks in my mind is Boris sitting cross legged on the floor of a classroom, back to back with a small child, with his little pencil drawing of an idealised house that children always draw ( door in the middle with Windows all around) with a proud smile on his face. It was embarrassing. What on earth are they thinking.

There is work to be done, he is the PM, these silly set ups do not endender any confidence in him, at least none from me.

I think PMs and wannabe PMs have embraced the photo opportunities for several decades, I vaguely reminded Margaret Thatcher being photographed in a British Tank?

You think that's bad - up here we've got Nicola on TV every day spouting the usual stuff. It's not made a blind bit of difference to the Covid numbers up here but it's a lovely PP broadcast for the dire SNP. At least Boris only does a press conference once in a while.

Now that would be amusing. Perhaps tomorrow he’ll be a cowboy! Or a spaceman...

Maybe he’s not Boris - maybe he’s Mr Ben !!!!!!

Ellianne. I really am just querying whether this has always been the norm which is why I didn’t just add it onto another thread. And asking people if they think these photo shoots serve a purpose.

Fanny now that is more interesting!

Good grief there are so many people on these pages moaning, complaining, pointing the finger at what Boris does or doesn't do. Not getting at you Maybee, but this discussion will just degenerate into what you refer to as Boris bashing. It could be far more elucidating
I would be more interested to discuss the workings behind his media team and his promotion advisors. My DD's friend works for a top politician as an image consultant to enhance his reputation and photo shoots are carefully planned and orchestrated. It's 2020, that's how it works, if they don't do it there are complaints in a different way.

I'm currently reading Tom Bower's biography of Johnson.
It's a brilliant insight, particularly into his childhood and relationship with his father.

My lock down brain is struggling with it. I can’t remember, pre pandemic, whether this has always been the norm. And then, of course there was the referendum, several elections, changes of PM. It’s like constant electioneering. When he does these photo shoots it’s stopping people from doing their jobs as well. Maybe it does get messages across better?? I don’t (much as I loathe him) intend this to be Boris bashing. I’m just genuinely bemused. I just turned on the tv and there he was again dressed up somewhere and I just groaned....

He's working on the bread and circuses theory. Keep the plebs entertained and they won't realise what a d*ckhead (apologies to those offended) he really is.

He’s always done it hasn’t he? bullingdon, swinging in that harness.....he just loves the camera!