Mr. Johnson live on GMB 8.30 today

He really is a national disgrace, isn't he?
Please vote against the Tories on Thursday, we really, really need something to change.

Just as bad as squirming Keir Starmer who can't appear to answer any questions what a pathetic bunch of politicians we have at the moment

Really? You know that is all just made up, don't you? You do know that people who believe that are being led by the nose by the DM and the like, whose owners want to maintain their non-dom status?

Obviously not.

I didn’t watch it and don’t intend to. I don’t like the programme nor do I rate Ms Reid’s interviewing style. Every time I have been unfortunate enough to catch sight of ITV’s morning programmes I am always put off by the trite or highly emotional content which seems to be purposely designed to pull at the heartstrings. Reid can often be very hectoring and, I think, annoyingly so, a trait I dislike too much of in an interviewer who is attempting to be taken seriously as a journalist. Compared with others I think she is a lightweight who is better suited to the other fodder that breakfast TV loves to serve its viewers. My favourite is Beth Rigby on Sky. She hits hard and pushes for answers without attempting emotional manipulation or being just plain rude.

Happygirl79

growstuff

Ah! I missed that. However, if she's receiving Pension Credit, it's possible that she could apply for a discretionary award from her council. Whatever her situation, it's a load of hassle.

It's disgraceful to make people beg for help. It's done this way to discourage people

I was a bit surprised that "Elsie" is living in a Band F council house. I don't know what the criteria are for a Band F property, but aren't they quite big? I'm amazed she's only paying £80(?) for fuel.

However, that's not really the point.

The point is that this is a 77 year old pensioner who's struggling. Johnson's reply was to boast that he introduced the Freedom Pass (which was a lie anyway). He should have expressed some concern and invited her to contact his office personally, so they could investigate. He showed that he couldn't care less.

Unfortunately the only candidate for our area for the new North Yorkshire elections, who actually lives in the area is a hard working Conservative. I'm loathe to see my vote taken as support for Boris but the alternative candidates are not suitable for what is a quite important election for us.

Amalegra

I didn’t watch it and don’t intend to. I don’t like the programme nor do I rate Ms Reid’s interviewing style. Every time I have been unfortunate enough to catch sight of ITV’s morning programmes I am always put off by the trite or highly emotional content which seems to be purposely designed to pull at the heartstrings. Reid can often be very hectoring and, I think, annoyingly so, a trait I dislike too much of in an interviewer who is attempting to be taken seriously as a journalist. Compared with others I think she is a lightweight who is better suited to the other fodder that breakfast TV loves to serve its viewers. My favourite is Beth Rigby on Sky. She hits hard and pushes for answers without attempting emotional manipulation or being just plain rude.

I don't watch Good Morning either, but if you didn't watch the interview, how do you know what was said?

Why would we expect Boris to be watching morning television? I don't know who Lorraine is either?

springishere

Why would we expect Boris to be watching morning television? I don't know who Lorraine is either?

I don't watch morning TV, but I know who Lorraine Kelly is.

And yet some people think he’s and his party are worth voting for.

If you have no one worth voting for tomorrow please go and spoil your ballot paper - all candidates get to read them so you could put your own message to make a point.

Women went through too much to get the vote, we must honour that.

You know, I was just wondering where the Johnson apologists had gone.

And right on cue, here they are.

OakDryad
Reid’s faux outrage is pathetic, if you ask a question have the good grace to allow someone to answer.
Elsie is a made up load of rubbish, someone in a F band house does not ride the bus all day to keep warm , if it was a council house, no way would they allow a single person to stay on a family home and a smaller place would be more practical and a lot cheaper and if she owns it then sell it and downsize or equity release

They actually had a film of Elsie. An actual film.

I wouldn't bother to watch BoJo the Clown - his posh voice, blustering manner, arrogance and constant lies and obfuscations are infuriating.

I find that most TV journalists are hopelessly deferential when they interview politicians so the latter don't get challenged enough. Result - we learn nothing. Emma Barnett is one of the few exceptions.

Perhaps he'll go quiet about having got Brexit done since he wants to re-write the part of the Brexit agreement that covers Northern Ireland. It was more important to him to sign a Brexit agreement - any Brexit agreement - by a certain date than to enquire what its consequences would be. We can now expect his incompetence to lead to the break up the UK. Well done BoJo!

Brownowl564

OakDryad
Reid’s faux outrage is pathetic, if you ask a question have the good grace to allow someone to answer.
Elsie is a made up load of rubbish, someone in a F band house does not ride the bus all day to keep warm , if it was a council house, no way would they allow a single person to stay on a family home and a smaller place would be more practical and a lot cheaper and if she owns it then sell it and downsize or equity release

That's not really the point. There have been various discussions over the years on GN about why people don't downsize to a smaller home. The point is that he should have shown some empathy for the lady and at least made a token offer to help. He knew he was on national TV and would be judged on what he said. He must have known that he would be questioned about the cost of living and should have prepared for it. As it was, he boasted about something he didn't even do.

Ramblingrose22

I wouldn't bother to watch BoJo the Clown - his posh voice, blustering manner, arrogance and constant lies and obfuscations are infuriating.

I find that most TV journalists are hopelessly deferential when they interview politicians so the latter don't get challenged enough. Result - we learn nothing. Emma Barnett is one of the few exceptions.

Perhaps he'll go quiet about having got Brexit done since he wants to re-write the part of the Brexit agreement that covers Northern Ireland. It was more important to him to sign a Brexit agreement - any Brexit agreement - by a certain date than to enquire what its consequences would be. We can now expect his incompetence to lead to the break up the UK. Well done BoJo!

But Reid wasn't deferential - and is being criticised for it.

volver

You know, I was just wondering where the Johnson apologists had gone.

And right on cue, here they are.

There aren't very many of them, though...

Council tax bands are all over the place. Believe it or not, they are based on the price that the property would have been valued at in 1991!

Considering how house prices change as localities become more, or less, popular a 30 year old valuation is patently absurd.

www.gov.uk/guidance/understand-how-council-tax-bands-are-assessed

The political implications of reassessing and changing bands accordingly are massive. I think anyone who has voters in mind doesn't want to touch it with a barge pole..

But Reid wasn't deferential - and is being criticised for it.

Lack of deference to the Great Leader is a bit frowned on in fascist societies...

The council tax banding being used for tax "refunds" is ridiculous. I have a neighbour in Band D. He is single, works off shore, earns £190K a year, more if he goes to Argentina and he is included in all the "help". Yet as some have posted many are excluded who are in actual need. It's criminal in my eyes to use that system.

growstuff Homes were last rated for council tax in 1991. Tax bands were based on market value. Reid said Elsie lived in a council house rated E (not F). E or F, it would put her outside the scope for the £150 energy rebate.

The Right to Buy council houses was introduced in 1980. My mother had the option to buy her London council house but refused on political grounds. She simply felt it was wrong and she was right - but that’s another matter.

I recall you had to remain in the property for a certain number of years after purchase. I recall too that the RtB price in 1981 with full discount was £10,000. Neighbours who had exercised their RtB started to sell them on. My mother's near neighbours sold in in 1986 for £75,000. Therefore, it is quite likely that a three bedroom London council house with a market value of £75,000 in 1986 would have been valued in 1991 at between £88001 and £120,000.

I have just checked the postcode of the home I grew up in and all the houses are rated E whether or not, from a Google map walk, they appear to be in private hands.

I can understand the practical reasons for using tax bands to get this help to a lot of people quickly but assuming that everyone in bands A-D need help and those in bands above that don't is wrong.

I gave up watching it yesterday as Suzzanna constantly talked over him and interrupted what he was saying.
Love him or hate him is irrelevant as everyone deserves a right to speak which he didn't get.
Hope they get someone different to do an interview with him, and other politicians, as she is too fond of her own voice. You can criticise someone without being as rude as she was

I thought Susanna was great. I like her.
Slimy git - love it!
His Freedom bus pass remark was unbelievable. Or not..

Love him or hate him is irrelevant as everyone deserves a right to speak which he didn't get.

Jesus Mary Joseph and the wee donkey.

She stopped him waffling about what he wanted to talk about and made him focus on the questions that we all wanted answered. She stopped at the end of each questions and allowed him to speak, then told him when he was trying to change the narrative.

leeds22

Unfortunately the only candidate for our area for the new North Yorkshire elections, who actually lives in the area is a hard working Conservative. I'm loathe to see my vote taken as support for Boris but the alternative candidates are not suitable for what is a quite important election for us.

This isn't him is it?

volver

^Love him or hate him is irrelevant as everyone deserves a right to speak which he didn't get.^

Jesus Mary Joseph and the wee donkey.

She stopped him waffling about what he wanted to talk about and made him focus on the questions that we all wanted answered. She stopped at the end of each questions and allowed him to speak, then told him when he was trying to change the narrative.

Who remembers Robin Day being criticised for asking politicians 'hard' questions and expecting answers? In the 1960s, wasn't it?

We don't seem to have come far since then...