Anyone understand why Johnson is so far ahead in the polls?

GrannyGravy13

Callistemon I hope your suggestion is not meant to be taken seriously?

Of course it is!

Callistemon It used to be that only landowners could vote, perhaps the modern version should have voting limited to those who have had a university education? Of course, that doesn't take into account that education does not equal intelligence.

I suspect he's got 'charisma' as did both Churchill and Hitler, What else does a politician need?

www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/chartists/keydates/

this shows how we have been included in votes historically, if it helps. I can't remember whether I posted it earlier in the thread.

Gallows humour, folks. Gallows humour.

Imagine..... not wanting to order another lockdown because you know how damaging they are even if strictly necessary according to the world and his dog. no, you can't hold your grandma's hand while she's dying. No, you can't see your grandkids. tough luck if your business goes to the wall. Dental checkups? Cancer treatments and interventions? Ha! You wish.

imagine... pestered to irritation to do something you really don't want to do because you believe in freedom. Don't tell me this isn't Boris!

So, you shout off something so utterly ridiculous and callous that it's OBVIOUS that that isn't what you really think, any more than the lying in front of bulldozers was.

And then you give in to the inevitable because you are not, after all, a dictator.

I've seen this viewpoint argued. And I think this is what people who aren't pathologically righteous see in Boris: a 'normal', faulty, irritating sort of human being when all's said and done. Quite a relief after saints Blair and Cameron.

lovebeigecardigans1955

I suspect he's got 'charisma' as did both Churchill and Hitler, What else does a politician need?

Well, precisely!

So, having elected Mr Charisma of the Century as PM, who does the actual governing of the country?

I appreciate, lovebeigecardigans that you may have omitted a sarcasm emoji

The ‘bodies’ comment is irrelevant - made in private and frustration. What I think are unacceptable are the comments made on national radio/TV and written in national newspaper comments.

All Labour voters should read the Mumsnet thread, especially the last post. It is about a cartoon in Private Eye. A Labour canvasser visits a home where the man is wearing a Union Jack Tshirt and the woman an I Love Brexit one.
The canvasser says "Why don't you racist, fascists vote Labour?"

Of course, that doesn't take into account that education does not equal intelligence

It might indicate a degree of intelligence or knowledge of a subject but not a knowledge of government, law etc.

The Chartists, the suffragettes and suffragists fought for votes.
Before 1918, 2 in 5 men were unable to vote. This meant that many of the British men who fought for their country from 1914-18 did not have any say in the election of their government

The franchise has been fought for and is still being fought over.

So having elected Mr Charisma of the Century as PM, who does the actual governing of the country?
The civil servants, who are always in power?

There is a great tradition in the UK of supporting the amateur over the professional and I think Boris somehow appeals to this. It's a long held belief that professionals are somehow cheating because they work at what they do and become good at it. The amateur on the other hand is simply doing his best and if he mumbles, is a bit dishevelled and cocks things up it doesn't matter.
It's summed up in the Flanders and Swann song- The English.
It's referring to other nations but for Boris it could be other politicians as well
They argue with umpires, they cheer when they’ve won
And they practice beforehand which ruins the fun!

Gossamerbeynon1945

All Labour voters should read the Mumsnet thread, especially the last post. It is about a cartoon in Private Eye. A Labour canvasser visits a home where the man is wearing a Union Jack Tshirt and the woman an I Love Brexit one.
The canvasser says "Why don't you racist, fascists vote Labour?"

I don't think the rise of right wing extremism in this country is something to joke about. And it is happening.

I agree with Trisher. He makes me laugh (sorry) and I am not particularly interested in payments for decorating or so-called sleaze. It's Politics innit.

It’ll be interesting to see what the turn out is next week. Normally it’s around a third I think but times are hardly normal. I do wish people would vote though whatever way.

Boz

I agree with Trisher. He makes me laugh (sorry) and I am not particularly interested in payments for decorating or so-called sleaze. It's Politics innit.

No it’s breaking the law and/or corruption ( depending which example is under discussion).

Baggs I think Johnson is popular because he's a "bloke". People can relate to him. They feel at ease. For all his faults, he's the kind of bloke you can talk to. He's a "common or garden", as the saying goes, man

I agree, but what I find interesting is that David Cameron (Eton-educated, posh voice, wife with impeccable taste) is perceived as elitist and out of touch, whereas Boris Johnson (Eton-educated, posh voice, fiancée with questionable taste) manages to convince swathes of the British people that he’s an ordinary bloke, just like them.

Perhaps those bloke-ish, foot-in-mouth comments paid off and were even part of a deliberately constructed persona. A high-risk strategy, but if it was, it seems to have paid off.

Mollygo

So having elected Mr Charisma of the Century as PM, who does the actual governing of the country?
The civil servants, who are always in power?

So funny.

On another thread someone was arguing passionately that our PM should have somewhere much grander to live in London than the no. 11 flat.

So, we not only plump for a completely incompetent charmer to nominally run the country but we think we should spend £squillions on a bit of pomp and circumstance for them...

This country's electorate is surely bonkers?

lemongrove

I would sincerely hope MaizieD that many other posters on GN also find your views on who should be allowed to vote as abhorrent, if they have the courage to disagree with you.
Intellectual arrogance is an unattractive trait.

And another one.

Boris Johnson (Eton-educated, posh voice, fiancée with questionable taste) manages to convince swathes of the British people that he’s an ordinary bloke, just like them

I don't think that they do think that. They just think he's a bit a laugh and cheers them up. Like that is the real function of a Prime Minister...

MaizieD- if you read my posts you'd remember that I said that the British PM should have a more impressive residence than a flat above the office. Boris won't be PM forever. He's only the current one.

GrannyGravy13

PippaZ someone on the right of the political spectrum points out the blindingly obvious and you call it an attack?

If you argue that you don't agree with the policy or view put forward that's fine but attacking a member personally isn't. Just my opinion GG13 but it does seem to be in line with GN rules.

Could we maybe have Ricky Gervais then, he cheers me up, obviously there would be a bit of swearing.

Maybee, I don’t know where you got the idea that Starmer ‘makes people’s skin crawl’.

I don’t think it’s that at all. Skin-crawling is the sort of thing many of us used to feel about the likes of Jimmy Savile. It’s just that he’s seemingly lacking in anything to inspire or attract Joe/Jane ordinary voter. He’s a bit of a grey nothing-very-much.

I hate intellectual snobbery as well and I believe everyone should have the right to vote, it should be universal.

I really don't understand why some of you get so personal with one another. I'm having a shit day though, partly caused by this government, partly caused by Blair's government. I don't think either would win, the only person who has lost is my extremely vulnerable daughter who has a severe and complex disability - so that's nice.

I never vote for what is best for me, I try to vote to protect the rights of people, which actually also includes the right to vote.

PippaZ there was no personal attack just a post addressing an opinion frequently posted by another poster to said poster.

I think it’s called discussion