Just when Johnson thought it was all over….

As Johnson appears to no ethics whatsoever he has as much need of an ethics advisor as a farmer without sheep has of a sheepshearer. Lord Geidt did the right thing in resigning. Johnson, however, won't do the same. He must be pushed by his Tory MPs once they have discovered their backbones.

the theatre goes on......

I am quite new to Gransnet but I’d like to say how pleasing it is to me that you all refer to the PM as ‘Johnson’. I really can’t bear how people call him just ‘Boris’ as if he is a sweet and loveable teddy bear. I think this is bad as it has a softening effect on an individual who seems to me unpleasant and with few morals.

When asked if Johnson is honest Helen Hurford, Tory candidate in Tiverton and Honiton, avoided the question the first time and then replied, ‘I think Boris Johnson thinks he’s honest’.

That'll be a no then.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jun/17/helen-hurford-tiverton-honiton-candidate-declines-to-say-if-boris-johnson-trustworthy?CMP=share_btn_tw

What I don't understand is that when Australia had an apparently rogue PM (Whitlam) the then Leader of the Opposition advised the Governor General (Queen's representative) and he sacked Whitlam. Why can't the same thing happen in the UK when this man is clearly not fit for purpose? I know the Queen is essentially a figurehead, but surely this is the sort of occurrence where her ultimate authority can come into play.

Interesting coverage of Lord Geidt's resignation on last night's (16 June) BBC Newscast ("An adviser's position") . It was an interview with Sir Alex Allan who resigned as ethics advisor in 2020. Sorry I can't provide link - technically inept.

Irismarle

I am quite new to Gransnet but I’d like to say how pleasing it is to me that you all refer to the PM as ‘Johnson’. I really can’t bear how people call him just ‘Boris’ as if he is a sweet and loveable teddy bear. I think this is bad as it has a softening effect on an individual who seems to me unpleasant and with few morals.

Welcome to GN Irismarle. My general observation is that it is Johnson's supporters on these boards who are more inclined to call him Boris. I've written before about the times he has described women who vote Tory as his "stooges" often "run to fat" and how they support him with their "porky decisiveness". He really is the epitomy of misogyny and clearly despises many of the people who vote for him. How any self-respecting woman can think he is their friend and vote for him (and his kind) defeats me.

And don’t you all love putting your boot in.

Aepgirl

And don’t you all love putting your boot in.

Actually, I wish I didn’t have to. I wish we had a Prime Minster with competence, honesty and integrity, so that I could comment on and discuss the government’s policies. But sadly, we don’t.

Today, presumably afraid of the backlash from the ethics row, he’s ducked out of a Northern Tories conference, and it would appear he won’t be visiting Wakefield ahead of next week’s by-election.

Two more occasions on which he could scrutinised (both by those present and a wider audience who see/read the news) and held to account that will not happen as a result of his incompetence, corruption and cowardice.

I wonder what the real reason is Sir Geit quit ? Don't we have a right to know ? I just wonder if it is anything to do with Johnson wanting to change , or get out from the ECHR , it was mentioned and then went quiet ! The ECHR , nothing to do with the EU ... set up by Churchill in 1959 .. Churchill will be turning in his grave !

Katie59

In fairness to Johnson he should support the steel industry it has been the victim of large scale dumping by China. Do we want a UK steel industry or not?, that can be applied to a lot of other industries as well.

Unfortunately UK steel is a lot more expensive than Chinese to produce which is why the UK steel industry collapsed. It was a loss making industry for many years, both before and after privatization.

Aepgirl

And don’t you all love putting your boot in.

Good fun sometimes but would much prefer to have a decent, truthful and honourable PM.

Dinahmo

Katie59

In fairness to Johnson he should support the steel industry it has been the victim of large scale dumping by China. Do we want a UK steel industry or not?, that can be applied to a lot of other industries as well.

Unfortunately UK steel is a lot more expensive than Chinese to produce which is why the UK steel industry collapsed. It was a loss making industry for many years, both before and after privatization.

Indeed! The UK blocked EU attempts to raise tariffs on Chinese steel when it suited, possibly to curry favour with Beijing. Lower steel prices protected British car manufacturers, but (as we know) resulted in the closure of Port Talbot and Redcar steelworks.

Something seems a bit fishy here.

Agree with Sylla and others. The main reason for the resignation now might be a determination to get clear of BJ before the next ethics row blows up - e.g. the Northern Ireland Protocol.

It’s good that people around Boris can resign if they don’t like what he is doing but us electorate are stuck with him until the next election. We can’t issue a vote of no confidence and vote Boris out can we ? What a shame.

Dinahmo

Aepgirl

And don’t you all love putting your boot in.

Good fun sometimes but would much prefer to have a decent, truthful and honourable PM.

Bit 0f projection there Aepgirl? Johnson is a liar who lacks integrity. The evidence for this is overwhelming. It isn’t about putting the boot in for me. It’s about being honest about the way this PM isn’t fit to hold office

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0cfh3wy

Here is the Newscast episode. Well worth a listen.

Lord Geidt is sharing more news about his resignation on the ITV News just now.

So today, having promised his "red wall" MPs that he would speak at their conference in the North of England, Johnson went to Ukraine in the hope that he could use Volodimir Zelensky as a human shield.

Unfortunately for Johnson, the leaders of the EU got there before him and Ukraine has now been designated as a candidate nation for EU membership.

Oh, the irony!!!

varian

So today, having promised his "red wall" MPs that he would speak at their conference in the North of England, Johnson went to Ukraine in the hope that he could use Volodimir Zelensky as a human shield.

Unfortunately for Johnson, the leaders of the EU got there before him and Ukraine has now been designated as a candidate nation for EU membership.

Oh, the irony!!!

At least one candidate country has been so since 2016, no big deal.

There are several others, Google is your friend.

news.sky.com/story/lord-geidt-gives-more-robust-account-of-why-he-quit-as-boris-johnsons-ethics-adviser-12635816

Lord Geidt says his resignation letter was too cautious and sets the record straight.

Why didn’t he resign before the vote of no confidence?

Aepgirl

And don’t you all love putting your boot in

It's not about putting the boot in - posters are giving valid reasons why they neither like nor trust the PM. And these reasons are based on what he has said, and what he has done.

You may not like that there is a consensus of opinion against the man, but a confidence vote is a serious issue and raises a lot of questions about him. If people are disillusioned with the way he's behaving, they have every right to say so.

You won't invalidate our concerns by a snarky observation. And if you want to defend him, then why not give us some context to your view?