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

A man in high office is expected to have integrity- he would not know what the word meant. We do not need allegedly a lying toad in that post but there is nobody to take over and Starmer has not exactly shown his face above the parapet. Apparently Downing Street receives £30 million a year for refurbishment, I would settle for £3K.

I think the reason that some posters don’t ‘get’ the popularity of Johnson are the same ones who didn’t ‘get’ the large majority gained by him at the last GE . They were upset and confused as to why Corbyn did so badly,they don’t understand the man in the street ( most voters.)They still don’t understand, even after the sort of year we have all had.

I have no idea! His weasel words in February of being determined that home owners should not face the six-figure costs of removing cladding from their homes are now shown as more lies. The amendment to the Fire Safety Bill has thrown these poor people under the bus. A shameful U-turn.

The person in power needs to be a dominant person but has to care about the ordinary person, the poor, the sick, the vulnerable, the weak etc. Boris doesn't care about any of them. He only got on the free meals bandwagon due to the publicity Marcus Rashford brought to the issue. He is in favour of reducing the welfare budget which is mainly paid to the sick, poor and elderly....the most vulnerable in our society. He is in favour of reducing workers (the ordinary person) rights but doesn't want an increase in capital gains tax.

No I don’t understand. I wish Labour had a leader with equal charisma. Tony Blair, although I didn’t like him and thought he was devious about what went on, had the same charisma at first.
Kier IMO just makes me think ‘sleaze’ and that’s before he’s elected. That’s possibly due to the fact that he is a lawyer, whatever other jobs he has held, and lawyers are often seen as aiming to screw the most money possible out of their clients.
Since few of us actually work in the Government, most of us get the only information we have from the press and media, who all claim to give the true version and viewpoints are based on that.

What did the coalition spend money on 12th May 2010 onwards?

Pantglas2

^A PM isn’t suppose to be likeable they are suppose to be capable, strong and clear and above any kind of gossip he fits NONE of that criteria^

But we had one of those Bluebelle, and almost everyone who wasn’t a Tory, hated her! (I mean Thatcher, in case anyone thinks it’s the poor man’s imitation...)

I disliked her too but I would have much preferred to have her in charge during the pandemic! Decisive, knowledgeable, clear.

?

Very necessary, not patronising. Pantglas was saying that Thatcher had those qualities, and she did. They are what we expect of a person in high office. But they were not enough.

Really, I fail to see how that is patronising?

Alegrias1 how patronising, and not necessary.

Pantglas2

^A PM isn’t suppose to be likeable they are suppose to be capable, strong and clear and above any kind of gossip he fits NONE of that criteria^

But we had one of those Bluebelle, and almost everyone who wasn’t a Tory, hated her! (I mean Thatcher, in case anyone thinks it’s the poor man’s imitation...)

Necessary but not sufficient.

Well said Casdon

It’s interesting to compare us with the US I think. Boris is a flamboyant personality, with obvious flaws, but many people identify with him because he does have charisma. His sins are now being exposed, but he is so far riding the storm. Inevitably he will go too far, his nature means he won’t be able to help himself, but who knows what and when the trigger will be?

I do take comfort in seeing Biden now quietly and competently putting right the many wrongs of Trump in the US though, and still hold out hope that the UK will follow suit once Boris has been hoist with his own petard. The calm after the storm.

Are you saying that the spending on arts, schools, pensions, the RF, travellers etc. are unimportant and not worthy of spending money on.

The census is a legal requirement. It helps to develop an understanding of future population needs. Hardly an unnecessary snooper's charter. We've actually just completed one under this government or is it only a snooper's charter when it's done by a Labour Government.

Oh and the last one. Has Johnsons government got rid of the snoopers charter as you call it. Because something came through my door a while back I dont think I was the only one.

Wow Urm, you're certainly knocking it for six today. Bravo!

Ha! Thanks Kim ?
I feel happy and energised today and I think my joie de vivre must be reflected in my posts!

I know taking the first one. Imagine giving money to improve childrens wellbeing.

I agree that wallpaper gate is just a side issue and no one really cares. However I do think it reflects Johnson's arrogance. His alleged comments about bodies were thoughtless to say the least. These are things which will reflect badly on him.
I am not anti Johnson and think he has performed fairly well.

£50 million--promoting music/ ballet and dance in schools.
£178 million---MP's pay and perks.
£95 million--obscure " natural environment programmes ".
£80 million--refurbishing the national audit office.
£38.4 million--financing gypsy sites across England.
£1.6 billion--on aid distributed to the EU.
£1.3 billion--reducing poverty in Asia.
£148.7 million---national measurements office (pounds to kilo's )
£2.5 billion---Sub-Saharan Africa.
£267.3 million---pensions for highly-trained judges.
£14 billion---pensions for Whitehall civil servants.
£5.6 million---Royal household pensions.
£37 million---historic buildings inc. Royal palaces.
£11.5 million---Royal travel England and around the globe.
£68.3 million---Kew Gardens.
£492,000 ----Princess Diana's inquest.
£442 million---on the quango, Natural England.
£87 million---2011 census ( government's snoopers charter )

Labour's spending 2010 and some of you are going on about carpets, sofas, curtains and wallpaper.

Stay where you are Boris !

A PM isn’t suppose to be likeable they are suppose to be capable, strong and clear and above any kind of gossip he fits NONE of that criteria

But we had one of those Bluebelle, and almost everyone who wasn’t a Tory, hated her! (I mean Thatcher, in case anyone thinks it’s the poor man’s imitation...)

Are you really saying that you're happy to have a proven liar as PM of this country? A man who will say/do anything to cover his back. A man who lies so openly that he's almost made it an art form.

The flat may not be important to some of you but lets look at the honesty. When asked who paid for the initial bills he simply kept repeating that he had paid for the refurbishment. Whilst not doubting that his advisors have persuaded him to now bear the costs the question still stands? Who was the initial payment made by? If he had nothing to hide on this issue he would answer straight i.e. 'I paid the initial amount' but he isn't so the obvious conclusion is that he didn't.

Politics IS important. Of course. But you know what, for MOST voters? The sun will shine, the grass will grow, the world will turn ... so As long as everything is hunky dory in their little world then that's ok is the benchmark by which most people live. And why not? Bet we were the same in our 30’s and early 40’s! Us retirees have time to sit and ponder. Busy families are just that - getting on with day-to-day bizzyness. They probably think about who to vote for (if they bother at all) on their way to the polling station ....
?

Its quite endearing that people think he was responsible for any of those things. OK, maybe surviving COVID, I'll give him that.

Nearly anyone Kim. And I include most of the Tory party in that.

He got elected on getting Brexit done ✔️
He survived sever Covid-19 ✔️
The U.K. is easing back to normal ✔️
The economy is on the up (slowly) ✔️
No shortages in supermarkets ✔️
No credible opposition ✔️

Who would I replace Boris with? A trained monkey. He'd do just as well and his hair would be even more unruly.

Boris doesn't just "bend" the truth. He breaks it in half and tells you it was never there in the first place.