Boris Johnson - unable to control his emotions.

Did it begin with a T or C, growstuff?!

I think it's his way. Natural but showy with it. It's amplified.

I have to admit to rather liking him whenever he was on Have I Got News For You.

PM material?

Depends. He's different I suppose.

paddyanne

Thing is Jane those of us who know her and have been in her company know they aren't crocodile tears.She cares deeply for the country she serves....and that IS all the country not just those who voted for her .As the folk whose bedroom tax her government mitigates or the carers who got a wage rise AND a bonus when Hancock 's contribution was a BADGE they had to buy!Or the care experienced children who know they can and do turn to her for advice...they call her the chief mammy ..and no its not derogatory .She has a heart of gold .

Careful, Paddyanne. That sort of breathless hagiography reads like the sort of thing enthusiastic cadres used to spout in praise of Stalin, Mao Tse-tung and Kim Il-sung, generally accompanied by photos of them patting masses of adoring children on the head...
It's a small step from "Chief Mammy" to "Great Leader (in perpetuity)".

And yet, Bodach, you’re prepared to believe things you read in the German equivalent of the Sun.

growstuff

MayBee70

Bodach

Here's what a German commentator had to say about Boris Johnson the other day: “ Just because someone has tangled hair, is prone to bursting into Latin, and has a somewhat chaotic private life doesn’t mean they cannot be a statesman of historic importance. Europeans of all stripes now know Johnson as the man who stood up against the behemoth that is the European bloc and, against all the odds, won the day for his country.”

Alexander Von Schoenburg, editor of ‘Bild’; Germany’s best-selling newspaper.

According to Wikipedia Bild is the German equivalent of The Sun so I assume it’s standard of journalism and relationship with the truth is similar also.

I would say "Bild" is worse than the Sun. It's succeeded in taking sensational journalism to a new level.

BTW "Bild" means "picture" in German and it's not really a newspaper but a comic strip.

Comic strip or not, 'Bild' is a "must read" for German politicians, and (like our own 'Sun') is both a leader and mirror of popular opinion for large swathes of the population. Those who dismiss it do so at their political peril.

So you’re happen to spread their lies on social media then?

'Popular' is vastly over-rated.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I've reported Suzan.

While I'm here...
Johnson's hair. I think that he ruffles it because he's quite bald on top. He moves his hair forward and up to disguise it. He's recently had what I should imagine quite a clever expensive cut to rectify the situation.

I started reading Tom Bower's book on Johnson. It's definitely worth a read, even if you just read the chapters about his father and his childhood. It's quite a revelation. I read it and felt genuine pity for the man.

Come on, MayBee70 and FarNorth; comments such as these display a certain elitism and contempt for large sections of the British (and German) electorates. There's plenty of room in the MSM for all opinions; not just those which chime with your own.

What I find so interesting, is Johnson’s stated admiration of Churchill, even going so far as to write a biography (I know the book is factually incorrect in a lot of his assertions), but Johnson certainly does not attempt to emulate Churchill in statesmanship. In fact I would go so far as to say that his leadership skills are so lacking that he could be seen as the antithesis of Churchill.

Why do some folks say "I'm sorry, but .....". If you disagree, why not say so clearly? 'I'm sorry but' isn't an apology. Its a passive aggressive way of disagreeing whilst attempting to sound 'nice'

I enjoyed the Marina Hyde article. But then, as MRD would have said 'you would do , wouldn't you'

I’ve just been reading Von Schoenburg’s articles in the Daily Mail a year ago, in particular one entitled “ Boris Charmed the EU into allowing Britain to leave with its head held high”, and how the UK would prosper, so he’s no friend of the EU.

In reality Boris charmed the UK Brexit voters into believing they were getting a good deal that did not exist.

So, Whitewavemark2, you're an admirer of Churchill (or at least his statesmanship), are you?
What about Churchill's comments on the relationship between the UK and Europe (as expressed in the 30's, I believe)? “We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not compromised; interested and associated but not absorbed.” These words seem to me like a pretty good blueprint for our future relations with the EU.

It's possible to admire parts of Churchills character and disagree with him on many things. But am sure WW can speak for herself.

Iam64 the reason that ‘I’m sorry but.....’ has been perhaps over used by some (me) on this thread was to demonstrate the point that the well mannered apology is often the British way. The same as we often say ‘with all due respect’ before we disagree. With all due respect I don’t agree that either way is passive aggressive but merely old fashioned good manners.
Nothing wrong with trying to be nice whilst not agreeing with someone.

Bodach

So, Whitewavemark2, you're an admirer of Churchill (or at least his statesmanship), are you?
What about Churchill's comments on the relationship between the UK and Europe (as expressed in the 30's, I believe)? “We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not compromised; interested and associated but not absorbed.” These words seem to me like a pretty good blueprint for our future relations with the EU.

No you clearly misread my post.

Shall I reiterate what I said in more simple language?

Bodach

Come on, MayBee70 and FarNorth; comments such as these display a certain elitism and contempt for large sections of the British (and German) electorates. There's plenty of room in the MSM for all opinions; not just those which chime with your own.

I’m fine with different opinions. I just don’t like newspapers that influence people and print blatant lies and incite xenophobia etc.

Whitewavemark2

Bodach

So, Whitewavemark2, you're an admirer of Churchill (or at least his statesmanship), are you?
What about Churchill's comments on the relationship between the UK and Europe (as expressed in the 30's, I believe)? “We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not compromised; interested and associated but not absorbed.” These words seem to me like a pretty good blueprint for our future relations with the EU.

No you clearly misread my post.

Shall I reiterate what I said in more simple language?

You wrote that "Johnson certainly does not attempt to emulate Churchill in statesmanship. In fact I would go so far as to say that his leadership skills are so lacking that he could be seen as the antithesis of Churchill." I infer from that (and from your many previous remarks about the PM) that you consider Johnson's leadership skills to be outstandingly poor.
However, by stating that his leadership skills could be seen as the antitheses (ie the extreme opposite) of Churchill('s), you must therefore consider that Churchill possessed outstandingly good leadership skills.
If that's not a ringing endorsement of Churchill's leadership/statesmanship, then I must be even simpler than you apparently think I am.

Churchill did some things outstandingly well. And some things outstandingly badly. Johnson just does the latter. Full marks for consistency I suppose.

Bodach ???

Just to add..

Whenever Paddyann mentions this ‘Chief Mammy’ thing, that children in Scotland are ( supposedly) calling Sturgeon, it makes me cringe.

lemongrove

Just to add..

Whenever Paddyann mentions this ‘Chief Mammy’ thing, that children in Scotland are ( supposedly) calling Sturgeon, it makes me cringe.

It was NS who described herself as 'Chief Parent' or, indeed 'Chief Mammy of Scotland', lemongrove.
Supposed adults were whooping and cheering.

I agree, it is cringeworthy.
Nanny State comes to mind.

People need political leaders, not mummies and daddies.

Well that's one thing you definitely don't get with Boris- a daddy I mean- even his children don't!

He's your jolly best friend

I don’t know that, Callistemon re NS calling herself the Chief Mammy.

Apart from the audacity and vomit-inducing sentiment, it’s downright sinister.

But then in a country that wanted to appoint a public guardian for every single child, because parents are not to be trusted to look after their own children, I suppose it’s to be expected.