Does anyone here believe, as I do, that Johnson is finished (and I am sure HE does know himself)

No. I thought this about him around a year ago.

I honestly didn’t think that his heart was in it.

But after he said that he wanted to have a greater run of it than Mrs Thatcher, I think that we’re stuck with him for a while.

I am surprised, because I thought that he’d just want to retire and write books; appear on telly; do the speech circuit etc

grannyactivist: Whether he stays or goes is in the hands of the Mail and the Telegraph

Exactly. Neither political party gains power because they are better/worse. Whoever leads our country is determined by the media and the power behind 'the throne' with financial control.

I despair of/for the UK. Even the US hasn't so effectively removed voting control from its electorate.

Johnson is just a puppet anyway. It makes no difference to me whether he stays or goes. I suppose other than the embarrassment factor of having a British Trump as our figurehead.

M0nica

The Russian Oligarchs that he (George Osborne) is so pally with.

Johnson is in up to his neck (if not higher) with the
Russian Oligarchs. I can't see him dropping them. On the other hand, I can see them dropping him if he ceases to be their useful fool...

lemongrove

Kali I realise that the UK leaving the EU upset you, but you have to accept that it happened and there is no going back.

No one has to do anything just because a member of GN, holding the opposite view, tells them to. But we know just how rude "the winners" can be. I think Kali is pointing out, just as many have, that for all the tribalism from "the winners", it's been a pyrrhic victory.

It would be good to see a little less hubris - which your much love Johnson might point out is said to bring about nemesis. He must, at times, be wondering if "the gods" are punishing his hubris in just that way. Sadly, if that is the case, the country takes the punishment handed out to him, too.

I doubt there is any "going back" to exactly what we once had but it is becoming obvious that we cannot ignore, or try to live without, a good relationship with our largest market and nearest neighbour. The only one's talking about Brexit and being a member of the EU are the leavers. Everyone else has moved on to thinking about how we can have the best relationship with them.

For once, in that brief moment, Leavers believed they had power; that they were above others - not equal to others as is the case. So the re-runs of their "greatest hour", rather than the moving forward, are bound to continue, I suppose.

The Russian Oligarchs that he (George Osborne) is so pally with.

No

WWM2 He will drop them when they prove a disadvantage, but so carefully they will not realise what is happening until it is too late.

Sorry, I'm not following. Who will he drop, MOnica?

WWM2 He will drop them when they prove a disadvantage, but so carefully they will not realise what is happening until it is too late.

I have immense respect for Mr Osborne's intelligence and guile while abhoring his behaviour and almost every view, political or otherwise that he supports.

On the other hand Tony Blair has also had very dodgy associates, and Cherie Blair, much the cleverer of the two, has been very good at using the cloak of female invisibility, to hide her business acumen.

There are lorry driver vacancies in Europe as well, which pay as well as in the UK, but with much less red tape and hassle. I don’t believe that many will be tempted to come here, why on earth would they - this announcement is just a political manoeuvre aimed to fool the gullible that something is being done.

Brexit isn't 'done' yet because the UK hasn't implemented a very key part of it. That is, border controls for incoming goods from the EU. We, despite 5 years in which to prepare, still don't have the infrastructure or the trained staff or, it looks like, the political will, to implement this. It was meant to be implemented in July of this year, was deferred until October and now has been deferred until next year.

This is where there are disatisfactions (to put it mildly) among exporters who are having to cope with the costly and time consuming paperwork required for export to the EU and border delays on what was previously a completely frictionless process. They are also trading at a disadvantage to EU exporters to the UK, who can bring their goods through to the UK with no checks. This can hardly be keeping businesses attached to a Johnson led tory government.

We won't know the full effect of Brexit until those border controls are implemented , if they ever are. If they're not implemented it makes a mockery of Brexit. Half in, half out...

Workers from Eastern Europe didn’t have to come here at all, ever. They choose to come, & when they did they were willing to work cheaply ( company bosses dream ) UK workers were no longer willing to work long hours for crap money like migrants were, & I don’t bloody blame them.
If we’d never had freedom of movement we’d never be where we are now.
Temporary visas are a great idea until we train up our own workers & pay them a decent wage.
This country was flooded with cheap labour from abroad undercutting our own people for years.
- thankfully that’s over.

Osborne is so clever he is cosying up to Russian oligarchs.

lemongrove I think he will find that all those money making opportunities are thin on the ground, as has David Cameron, but it will not stop him thinking that being PM is a gateway to a fortune.

Now the really clever one was George Osborne, he has made a packet, but then he always was very capable and has been employed for his skills and not his supposed political clout. And, of course Tony Blair has done alright, but he had a clever wife, who hid her talents very well until she really needed them.

He certainly isn’t get an easy ride from his usual supporters like The Sun and Telegraph who recognise the major crises ahead and that the government must get a grip.

They also recognise that which has been obvious ever since Johnson came to power which is the complete lack of planning.

Ah well, I am not a betting person- and I have to go and finish the decorating in the end bedroom. So I will just leave this here- and we will soon see.

Don't take my word for it. It was just a question.

The answer will have nothing to do with me, or any of you... I imagine. Watch and see.

If there are shortages which affect Europe at some point- do you think they will choose to share with the UK? Or prioritise their own- members of their community- without borders, red tape and long delays, and currency issues?

Rosycheeks

I dont think Johnson is finished I just think its remainers wishful thinking . A lot of whats happing here is happening in Europe too .

In Europe- where? Where in Europe is there food shortages on shelves and shortages of petrol?

This thread is not about Labour or Starmer, but about Johnson - being finished- not just yet, but as the crisis deepens he will be pushed, or drop out one way or another. Some of the shortages are entirely of the Government's making- having very low storage and fore-planning for so many essentials- like water purifying chemicals, that have short shelf life anyway. Do a bit of research and you will see there is no scare mongering, or b*!$it either.

Yes, we have left the EU - but a lot of the consequences have not happened yet ... and the way they will happen is still very much to play for. Yes, we have left- but there is no reason the Governement could not encourage key workers from EU to come back, as it is clear they are very much needed NOW.

But they won't come unless they are treated properly. Talking about bringing in 10 to 30000 on 3 months contract is not going to attract the right people, or anyone for that matter.

What do you mean LBC please Rosie?
Can you please send a link.
I'm pretty sure the UK is actually in a uniquely problematic position.

LBC

No

I seem to remember several GN’ers confidently predicting Boris ‘would be gone’ by the New Year. New Year 2021 that is.

Well, he hasn’t gone yet, New Year 2022 perhaps?

Rosycheeks

I dont think Johnson is finished I just think its remainers wishful thinking . A lot of whats happing here is happening in Europe too .

Do you have a source for that?

We regularly visit three different supermarkets here in France where the shelves are as well stocked as ever. No problems with petrol either and nothing on the news about shortages. There is a shortage of HGV drivers but the EU is less affected than the UK.

I dont think Johnson is finished I just think its remainers wishful thinking . A lot of whats happing here is happening in Europe too .

Someone else who thinks Johnson is finished

www.youtube.com/watch?v=goo06-v2h-w

Worth a watch as this chap does his due diligence.