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

Forgive me if I laugh varian...because you back an unpopular political party does not mean that it negates our voting system.

varian

We will never see democracy in action in the UK until we reform the totally corrupt and undemocratic voting system which allows a party most voted against to gain a huge majority of MPs and do what they want for the next five years.

Do not pretend UK is a democracy.

Exactly this

We will never see democracy in action in the UK until we reform the totally corrupt and undemocratic voting system which allows a party most voted against to gain a huge majority of MPs and do what they want for the next five years.

Do not pretend UK is a democracy.

The next General Election will be democracy in action, just as the last one was, and all those that came before them.

I've seen some posts on GN in the past but being content to give away our democracy takes some beating.

It wasn’t a whinge suziew it was surprise that somebody should bother to do it.Do you usually argue with HQ when they delete your posts I wonder.I certainly don’t.

You can’t get rid of the government or do much else Maizie actually, although any minister or PM may have to resign over certain things.In most people’s view, it’s unlikely that Johnson would have to resign over anything this time.
Am hoping that he may be replaced or choose to resign in about a year’s time, that would be just right timing.However most PM’s once in the job and however hard going they find it rarely want to give it up.

What do you suggest people could do that would be effective?

I've already suggested one thing that is being effective. Are you ignoring that in favour of berating people, Mollygo?

Even if we can't get rid of this damned government at the moment, we can at least try to get it to act within the law.

lemongrove

Just noticed that a post of mine has been reported and deleted,
Odd! I haven’t said anything that warrants it. Somebody’s reporting finger has been busy again.

Oh no here we go again - when reported and deleted and you don’t like it, why not argue the case with HQ rather than having a whinge on here?

I agree with you Witzend 100%, what’s the alternative, really …

SW ‘ understand . . .’
Whitewavemark2 ‘Stop making excuses’

People can do and have done those things sitting in a chair and probably feeling good that they have made that decision, without it having the slightest effect.
How can they make their ‘understanding’ and refusal to ‘make excuses’ mean anything?
What do you suggest people could do that would be effective?

I don't know what we can do when this man is taking the role of judge, jury and executioner to himself more and more. If he is found to have taken bribes - and that is surely what they are if he cannot put them on record - will anything happen or will he just choose to stay in his post?

He is being investigated by the Electoral Commission on suspicion of breaking electoral law. If they find him guilty he can be fined a maximum of £20,000 and the EC can, if they think it necessary, pass the papers to the police for a criminal investigation.

If it's just a fine, I think he will ignore the implications and carry on as though nothing has happened. It won't bother his supporters, who regard corruption as normal behaviour, and he isn't bothered about breaking the Ministerial Code or violating the Nolan Principles.

Criminal investigation? It would be interesting to see how that panned out...

Whitewavemark2

Mollygo

SW
So what do you suggest people should do about it that would be effective?

Understand that corruption is hidden by an actor who does a blundering affable idiot well enough for many to be taken in.

I don't know what we can do when this man is taking the role of judge, jury and executioner to himself more and more. If he is found to have taken bribes - and that is surely what they are if he cannot put them on record - will anything happen or will he just choose to stay in his post?

UK PM’s Salary entitlement

1/04/17 entitled £153,907. Claimed £151,451
1/04/18. £155,602. £152,819
1/04/19. £158,754 £154,908
1/04/20. £161,866. £157,372

Ah, all is revealed Alegrias although I certainly did not tell you to ‘get off’. Keeping calm is the best option, however much posters dislike it.
There is no defence of politicians including Johnson on this thread or any other, just a wish to let the truth come out fully
( the trial before the execution) in other words.

Just noticed that a post of mine has been reported and deleted,
Odd! I haven’t said anything that warrants it. Somebody’s reporting finger has been busy again.

Just a wee diversion - telling people to get off social media isn't a good idea.

Right, back to the attempted defence of that untrustworthy charlatan and his gang of self-interested hangers-on....

I'd like to know what the red wall voters (and others) think about Johnson's suggestion that he can't exist on less than £300,000. He is not paying rent or council tax and presumably not electricity and/or gas and water rates.

Many of those red wall voters won't earn 10% of the amount he deems necessary to live on.

Who says it’s acceptable?Or hallowed?! It isn’t deflection either ( another overused word on here).It’s showing how things have often been in politics, as some posters seem surprised, shocked and amazed, rather naively in my view, by what politicians often do or say.
If it isn’t naive of them, then it’s wilfully pushing the idea that only Conservative MP’s or PM’s act wrongly.
Johnson has maybe broken the Ministerial code on payments to refurbish his flat, and has maybe made a remark about letting bodies pile up rather than another lockdown.Both unproven at the present time. The alleged comment would have been in bad taste but not corrupt or criminal .If there is
Wrongdoing as regards his flat then it will be dealt with.
What do some of you want...a public flogging?

Mollygo

SW
So what do you suggest people should do about it that would be effective?

Understand that corruption is hidden by an actor who does a blundering affable idiot well enough for many to be taken in.

In answer to the "everyone is doing it" argument.

1. No, they aren't. I imagine, if the blurters of poor argument thought about it, even they could suggest a large number of politicians they believe obey the rules.

2. It may work for Johnson; it has for most of his life. Johnson does not constitute "everyone".

3. Even if you and your friends and family think this is the way to behave, me and mine don't.

4. You and your friends and family may think his behaviour is of advantage to you. I and mine don't.

5. If a person in a particular position is behaving illegally or against rules, we may agree to punishment may be delayed or withheld but only if that person shows incapacity or ignorance.

I just hope that those who use this "everyone is doing it" 12 year old's argument didn't bring their children up to think that just by saying this makes it okay.

Mollygo

SW
So what do you suggest people should do about it that would be effective?

Firstly stop making excuses and ask themselves why Johnson won’t answer the simple question as to who made the invoice originally.

GrannyGravy13

Well put Lemongrove

I would like to respectfully point out that not all Conservative voters are slavishly devoted to Boris.

I will reiterate Lemongrove’s point if the PM is found to be guilty of any illegalities he should resign and be punished accordingly.

lemon's 'point' is quite irrelevant at this stage of the discussion. What is relevant is her, and others, attempt to deflect attention from the current government's corruption by saying that it is an entirely normal and acceptable practice, hallowed by years and years of it being normal and acceptable.

SW
So what do you suggest people should do about it that would be effective?

So what do you suggest people should do which would be more effective than writing to your ( or any) MP?

There is absolutely no point at all in writing to my MP, who is one of Johnson's Red Wall noddies.

The only thing that seems to be having any effect on the government at the moment is Judicial Review, which judges the legality of government action. It is proving to be effective so far. Which is why, despite some reservations over its founder's views on transgender matters, DP and I are supporting the Good Law Project with a regular donation.

Sorry that was in reply to 09.59 post