Anyone understand why Johnson is so far ahead in the polls? ( 2)

Starmer!

GrannyGravy13

MayBee70

He is responsible for the highest covid death rate in Europe imo. But, hey, let’s just forget that shall we. What about Blair helping to bring about peace in Ireland and Yugoslavia? Why do people forget about that. And why did the Conservative party back the Iraq war at the time? Shouldn’t they shoulder some of the blame. How come people in America voted Republican after Bush? Maybe some countries are capable of moving on from certain events and judge parties on the here and now.

He sent U.K. armed forces into Yugoslavia, Mr. Blair liked a war

Something needed to be done about Yugoslavia. Should we have just ignored what was happening there?

Now, Blair, that is interesting. As Peter Mandelson said over elections and the Labour Party, lose,lose, lose, lose, Blair, Blair, Blair, lose, lose, lose.

Perhaps the Labour Party should revive New Labour, it seems to have done rather well in a sea failure.

I agree but you cant just repeat it, it's a different time now. I think it wouldnt be a bad idea to listen to some of those responsible for that electoral success.

I think Alastair Campbell is on GMB next week. That’ll be interesting. I’m not a morning person usually but I’ll make a point of getting up for that.

I wonder how many Conservative MP’s will agree to appear on the programme?

I was just thinking that as I washed up, Monica

When they have their own wash up perhaps they should think of a new name, including the name Labour, with positive forward thinking, without looking over their shoulders nostalgically at a past that no longer exists. They might find a lot more enthusiasm, new members and leave the mistrust of the public behind.

Perhaps those clinging to the past could gather themselves and rename themselves as the Labour1900 Party.

Lin52 the Scottish Nationalist haven't rebranded themselves- they’ve always been the SNP, the Tories have become more like the Brexit/ English nationalists since their popularity is in the English regions. They aren’t that popular in London, Liverpool, Manchester either.

Easy to say unless you had a family member there, witnessing things that should never been seen.

He is responsible for the highest covid death rate in Europe imo.

And how long is this myth going to last I wonder. There are lots of factors that affected our "death rate" not least our unfathomable desire to make it as high as possible by recording all deaths within 28 days of a positive test as covid ones even when they plainly weren't.

I am 64 years old and not without health problems yet there were 24 million people ahead of me in the queue for vaccines as they were deemed more vulnerable than I was. This is another reason why we had a high death rate.

Now we have a vaccine our death rate is falling, that of other countries is not.

The jury is still out on who will win the accolade you give to Boris.
(of having the worst death rate in Europe - just in case you don't get my sarcasm.)

Callistemon

I was just thinking that as I washed up, Monica

When they have their own wash up perhaps they should think of a new name, including the name Labour, with positive forward thinking, without looking over their shoulders nostalgically at a past that no longer exists. They might find a lot more enthusiasm, new members and leave the mistrust of the public behind.

Perhaps those clinging to the past could gather themselves and rename themselves as the Labour1900 Party.

I notice that in some places the Labour and Cooperative party have been successful.
It’s an old name, but if it works?

It's a good name

AGAA4

Labour have done very well here in Wales. People seem to like Mark Drakeford. So why the disparity with England?

we usually spend a lot of time in North Wales and the television coverage with regards to politics is very different to what we what in the South East. There definitely seems to be political and social bias on tv in regional areas/differences
No one ever seems to mention this

what we watch in the South east of England, honestly it is noticeable

GrannyRose15

^He is responsible for the highest covid death rate in Europe imo.^

And how long is this myth going to last I wonder. There are lots of factors that affected our "death rate" not least our unfathomable desire to make it as high as possible by recording all deaths within 28 days of a positive test as covid ones even when they plainly weren't.

I am 64 years old and not without health problems yet there were 24 million people ahead of me in the queue for vaccines as they were deemed more vulnerable than I was. This is another reason why we had a high death rate.

Now we have a vaccine our death rate is falling, that of other countries is not.

The jury is still out on who will win the accolade you give to Boris.
(of having the worst death rate in Europe - just in case you don't get my sarcasm.)

Rubbish.

There will be a continuing discrepancy regarding actual Covid-19 deaths due to each Country counting differently.

GrannyGravy13

MayBee70

He is responsible for the highest covid death rate in Europe imo. But, hey, let’s just forget that shall we. What about Blair helping to bring about peace in Ireland and Yugoslavia? Why do people forget about that. And why did the Conservative party back the Iraq war at the time? Shouldn’t they shoulder some of the blame. How come people in America voted Republican after Bush? Maybe some countries are capable of moving on from certain events and judge parties on the here and now.

He sent U.K. armed forces into Yugoslavia, Mr. Blair liked a war

Oh good Lord. Would you rather we hadn't gone in? Wouldn't that mean Churchill "liked a war" too?

It was a peace keeping mission for heaven's sake.

It's not rubbish, MayBee70

www.statista.com/statistics/1111779/coronavirus-death-rate-europe-by-country/

PippaZ

It was a peace keeping mission for heaven's sake.

Maybe, from a personal perspective, I have family members who cannot forget what they saw.

Peace keeping involves fighting

GrannyRose15

^He is responsible for the highest covid death rate in Europe imo.^

And how long is this myth going to last I wonder. There are lots of factors that affected our "death rate" not least our unfathomable desire to make it as high as possible by recording all deaths within 28 days of a positive test as covid ones even when they plainly weren't.

I am 64 years old and not without health problems yet there were 24 million people ahead of me in the queue for vaccines as they were deemed more vulnerable than I was. This is another reason why we had a high death rate.

Now we have a vaccine our death rate is falling, that of other countries is not.

The jury is still out on who will win the accolade you give to Boris.
(of having the worst death rate in Europe - just in case you don't get my sarcasm.)

You might find this interesting GrannyRose15. I think you are playing to your own inbuilt bias if you think it's a myth.

GrannyGravy13

PippaZ

It was a peace keeping mission for heaven's sake.

Maybe, from a personal perspective, I have family members who cannot forget what they saw.

Peace keeping involves fighting

GrannyGravy13:
Peace keeping involves fighting.

Sadly, that's a truth. I don't think Blair can be blamed for a fact of life.

I'm in the unprecedented situation of agreeing with GG13 and GrannyRose15. The UK does not have the highest death rate in Europe by any measure, including excess deaths. No "opinions" about it. I wish people would stop saying that.

I'm no fan of Johnson and there are plenty of things to blame him for, but this isn't one of them.

www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-tracker

Your link, PippaZ, is a year old. Well out of date now.

He still, imo, has handled the pandemic badly and is responsible for people losing their lives.

The world loves a trier MayBee.