Gransnet forums

News & politics

Why is Johnson more popular than Starmer?

(331 Posts)
Glorianny Fri 20-May-22 12:02:34

It's a simple question and you could answer it purely on political lines but I think there is more to it than that. I think somehow Johnson appeals to those who like bad boys and the slight amorality which is present in so many lives now, whereas Starmer always comes across as the typical lawyer, and no one trusts a lawyer. Any other ideas?

growstuff Thu 26-May-22 23:04:00

Has half term started early?

jeaniebquick Thu 26-May-22 23:07:14

Growstuff lol love to -
but alas the woke are trying to ban comedians
right now - They want to decide for us what we may be permitted to laugh at

Mollygo Thu 26-May-22 23:07:58

BJ’s appalling handling of it?
Well I could certainly point out some mistakes, especially those regarding contracts for friends, and like everyone else, with hindsight, have done it better.
My thoughts . . .
He should have had police out with guns like they did in other countries to make sure people stayed off the beaches and other gathering places.

He should have insisted on the sort of lockdown that’s going on in China at the moment.

He should have insisted everyone wore a mask or stayed in instead of allowing the choice.
He should have, having done an excellent job in obtaining vaccine, have insisted that everyone had it, including the microchip fearing resisters.

He should have closed beaches and other public gatherings where those who didn’t care if there were rules did just as they wanted.

No one knew exactly what to do, although there are a lot of hindsight experts now.

jeaniebquick Thu 26-May-22 23:12:51

Arggh I see - dull likes dull

jeaniebquick Thu 26-May-22 23:15:20

Growstuff let you take your meds dear

OakDryad Thu 26-May-22 23:19:37

Why do admirers of the Prime Minister, especially women, call him Boris as if he is their friend when he has made it very clear in his writing that he despises the women who vote for him (and his party) calling them his stooges and worse? Wake up.

jeaniebquick Thu 26-May-22 23:22:19

Doodledog -the whole point of mentioning China bringing Covid to the world was in reply to the myriad of people on here who thought Boris killed our people - I was merely pointing that out. Italy had similar deaths to the UK but they don't appear to blame it on their PM -or perhaps they do too ?

sharon103 Thu 26-May-22 23:26:03

Mollygo

BJ’s appalling handling of it?
Well I could certainly point out some mistakes, especially those regarding contracts for friends, and like everyone else, with hindsight, have done it better.
My thoughts . . .
He should have had police out with guns like they did in other countries to make sure people stayed off the beaches and other gathering places.

He should have insisted on the sort of lockdown that’s going on in China at the moment.

He should have insisted everyone wore a mask or stayed in instead of allowing the choice.
He should have, having done an excellent job in obtaining vaccine, have insisted that everyone had it, including the microchip fearing resisters.

He should have closed beaches and other public gatherings where those who didn’t care if there were rules did just as they wanted.

No one knew exactly what to do, although there are a lot of hindsight experts now.

Hear Hear!

jeaniebquick Thu 26-May-22 23:26:13

OakDryad there you go again -assuming people say Boris as they think he's their friend -haha NO it's actually quicker to type -no big heavy analysis needed to peddle your bias

volver Thu 26-May-22 23:28:09

OakDryad

Why do admirers of the Prime Minister, especially women, call him Boris as if he is their friend when he has made it very clear in his writing that he despises the women who vote for him (and his party) calling them his stooges and worse? Wake up.

To be fair, it's better than calling him BJ ?

OakDryad Thu 26-May-22 23:56:02

I prefer narcissistic psychopath volver. Takes longer to type but an accurate description. ;)

Doodledog Thu 26-May-22 23:59:28

jeaniebquick

Doodledog -the whole point of mentioning China bringing Covid to the world was in reply to the myriad of people on here who thought Boris killed our people - I was merely pointing that out. Italy had similar deaths to the UK but they don't appear to blame it on their PM -or perhaps they do too ?

No idea about who the Italians blame; but their PM wasn't hosting regular parties whilst telling others not to mix socially, was he?

And I don't think that people here blame Johnson for the deaths (apart from those in care homes, and of those released into care homes from hospital, that is - oh, and those who died because the PPE contracts were a disgrace, and because people were encouraged to 'eat out to help out' when Covid was still rife), but we do blame him for being a liar, and for leading the most corrupt and shambolic cabinet in living memory.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 27-May-22 00:30:41

“Use of such terminology as Vladimir Corbyn, Captain Hindsight, Sir Beer Korma are insight into a persons bullying nature. Character abuse is often a sign of an unstable personality, it starts with demeaning the victim, then progresses on to a conspiratorial controlling incursion”

nightowl Fri 27-May-22 00:47:22

sharon103

Mollygo

BJ’s appalling handling of it?
Well I could certainly point out some mistakes, especially those regarding contracts for friends, and like everyone else, with hindsight, have done it better.
My thoughts . . .
He should have had police out with guns like they did in other countries to make sure people stayed off the beaches and other gathering places.

He should have insisted on the sort of lockdown that’s going on in China at the moment.

He should have insisted everyone wore a mask or stayed in instead of allowing the choice.
He should have, having done an excellent job in obtaining vaccine, have insisted that everyone had it, including the microchip fearing resisters.

He should have closed beaches and other public gatherings where those who didn’t care if there were rules did just as they wanted.

No one knew exactly what to do, although there are a lot of hindsight experts now.

Hear Hear!

Bloody hell a Johnson supporter who wants to live in communist China, now that requires some mental gymnastics!

And Johnson should have done all this while partying with his mates most nights of the week I suppose, because after all, he deserves a bit of fun after all his hard work, and the great job he did, not to mention that he nearly died of covid himself you know and he’s a great guy etc etc etc.

Mollygo Fri 27-May-22 07:11:21

Nightowl- are you a Johnson supporter then? One of the few on here.
The focus at the moment is all on the socialising, which was wrong but didn’t actually cause any deaths from Covid as far as we know. I’m sure the media would have dug that out.

Do you not agree that he should have done any of the things I mentioned to stop the spread of Covid? Been more in charge of the GBP?

volver Fri 27-May-22 07:26:54

Mollygo do you think that "at least he didn't kill anybody" is a suitable standard for a PM? Most of us are more focussed on "he lied to us and Parliament" or " he's either lying or he's too thick to recognise a social event" or "he's such a bad leader he'd rather be liked than do the right and legal thing."

It's a charge often levelled at us "loony lefties" that we should go and live in China. Sounds as though you want to bring China to us.

Mollygo Fri 27-May-22 08:24:44

No. I didn’t say that, though I’m sure you could arrange anything I say to suit your purpose.
I don’t want either to live in China nor to bring China here, but the spread of Covid was partly caused by his inability to enforce rules that would have kept more people safe (and the inability of some of the GBP to follow those rules without enforcement.) in Oz there were police out enforcing the rules. Here, if the media stories are true, rule breakers claimed unfair treatment, removal if their democratic rights and tge eternal ‘other people are doing it so why shouldn’t I’?

volver Fri 27-May-22 08:30:46

if the media stories are true

Quite.

Lucca Fri 27-May-22 08:57:50

* all the millions of people out protesting during lockdowns ?*

Millions ? Where ?

You could ask st Christopher to help you find the plot ?

Urmstongran Fri 27-May-22 09:03:50

Whitewavemark2

“Use of such terminology as Vladimir Corbyn, Captain Hindsight, Sir Beer Korma are insight into a persons bullying nature. Character abuse is often a sign of an unstable personality, it starts with demeaning the victim, then progresses on to a conspiratorial controlling incursion”

Ditto ‘the greased piglet’ I assume? ?

Mollygo Fri 27-May-22 09:08:12

volver

^if the media stories are true^

Quite.

But which media stories do you believe? Just the ones that suit your purpose or the all of them?

Don’t you believe the spread of Covid was partly caused by his inability to enforce rules that would have kept more people safe (and the inability of some of the GBP to follow those rules without enforcement.)

volver Fri 27-May-22 09:08:47

As far as I know WWM2 isn't the Prime Minister meant to be involved with serious interactions with the opposition about the running of the country. (Insert passive aggressive smiley face here)

volver Fri 27-May-22 09:18:47

But which media stories do you believe? Just the ones that suit your purpose or the all of them?

I'm glad somebody has asked this because its something I've been thinking about.

When I read something in the press, or listen to a politician speaking, I try to apply a bit of critical thinking. So, for instance, if I read something in the press, I try to use what I know about the world to decide if it real or not, and how much the telling of the story has been influenced by the politics of the papers, or what they want me to believe. Same with politicians. If a politician says something which seems to either support or demolish something I believe to be true, I ask myself if that politician has a record of lying for his own ends, or if he was a respected DPP who got knighted for his work. For instance.

So I don't just "believe" anything. I exert judgement. Occasionally the Mail has an article that is true. Quite often the Guardian are harbingers of doom. If a population is educated, they should be able to judge for themselves whether a media story is reliable or not.

But too often, when the public see stories that reinforce their prejudices, they just believe them. That the poor will spend their money on booze and Sky TV for instance.

We need to be critical. Nullius in verba.

DaisyAnne Fri 27-May-22 09:20:07

growstuff

Has half term started early?

It certainly looks like it. Has Maizie moved or is someone just using silly myths to make a point?

Mollygo Fri 27-May-22 09:29:23

Volver I’m just asking

Don’t you believe the spread of Covid was partly caused by his inability to enforce rules that would have kept more people safe (and the inability of some of the GBP to follow those rules without enforcement.)