Johnson ditches the North in favour of Ukraine

As there is still the possibility of this war escalating, I can see why various European leaders including Mr,Johnson have visited President Zelensky this week.

Some negotiations are far too sensitive to be carried out electronically, Russia is capable of cyber spying and carrying out a cyber attack

Really, what do you think he was doing there? Showing them how to use Kalashnikovs? Leaders of countries don't drop everything to visit leaders of other friendly countries for talks, even in time of war. I do not believe that there is anything so urgent that it needs Johnson to put on his suit and fly to Ukraine at an hour's notice. Nothing.

GrannyGravy13

As there is still the possibility of this war escalating, I can see why various European leaders including Mr,Johnson have visited President Zelensky this week.

Some negotiations are far too sensitive to be carried out electronically, Russia is capable of cyber spying and carrying out a ^cyber attack^

How long was he there? A couple of hours? What kind of important international negotiations can be carried out in a couple of hours?

At the very best he was signing an agreement that had been negotiated by Truss and Wallace and their teams. You give him too much credence.

Well you wouldn't know would you volver. There's a lot goes on that we know nothing about so, no one knows if it was a ploy to avoid the meeting in Doncaster, it's mere speculation.

Even the world’s busiest men prioritise their diaries, because they are competent enough to know what takes priority. A pre-arranged conference in the area of the country which is discontented, which got you elected, and where there’s a by election next week is not something a competent man would miss for a photo opportunity so as not to be outdone by the EU.

I'm not a member of Boris' fan club. Never have been. But the constant cynicism about his motives is unpleasant. I think the Ukraine is urgent enough to warrant his visit there. Three other European leaders were there the day before. Were all their visit's unnecessary too?
Smileless is right; how can any of us possibly know for sure.
But some on here talk as if they do.

volver

GrannyGravy13

As there is still the possibility of this war escalating, I can see why various European leaders including Mr,Johnson have visited President Zelensky this week.

Some negotiations are far too sensitive to be carried out electronically, Russia is capable of cyber spying and carrying out a ^cyber attack^

How long was he there? A couple of hours? What kind of important international negotiations can be carried out in a couple of hours?

At the very best he was signing an agreement that had been negotiated by Truss and Wallace and their teams. You give him too much credence.

I am not giving Mr.Johnson any credence.

I am aware of cyber security and it’s limitations.

Smileless2012

Well you wouldn't know would you volver. There's a lot goes on that we know nothing about so, no one knows if it was a ploy to avoid the meeting in Doncaster, it's mere speculation.

I have a brain that has experience of the world. I don't believe a word that comes out of Johnson's mouth.

Good on him for going to Ukraine. Bad idea to do it when he was meant to be somewhere else entirely and making it look as though he doesn't want to be seen in the country he's meant to be leading.

henetha

I'm not a member of Boris' fan club. Never have been. But the constant cynicism about his motives is unpleasant. I think the Ukraine is urgent enough to warrant his visit there. Three other European leaders were there the day before. Were all their visit's unnecessary too?
Smileless is right; how can any of us possibly know for sure.
But some on here talk as if they do.

What we do know though henetha is that he makes choices. Cynicism is well founded where his previous choices have exposed his lack of competence and understanding of his own electorate.

Casdon

Even the world’s busiest men prioritise their diaries, because they are competent enough to know what takes priority. A pre-arranged conference in the area of the country which is discontented, which got you elected, and where there’s a by election next week is not something a competent man would miss for a photo opportunity so as not to be outdone by the EU.

The voice of reason. Thanks, Casdon

I'd also suggest that a PM who has recently squeaked through a vote of no confidence in which a very large number of backbenchers voted against him does himself no favours by thumbing his nose at the red wall tory MPS who must be in fear of losing their seats at the next GE. He needs to be on a charm offensive to win them over; not flying off to the arms of a professed admirer for a few publicity shots.

It might just be me, but I am sensing a certain degree of Ukraine fatigue, no doubt exacerbated by people's concerns over the problems associated with inflation eating away at their living standards. I'd be thinking 'What the hell is he doing to help us?' if I were a voter in a financially precarious position, not swelling with pride at his supposed great friendship with Zelensky.

Zoejory

NanKate

I’m with you Smileless The people of Ukraine are being bombed, raped, murdered so they need all the help they can get as soon as possible.

Hopefully BJ will visit Doncaster soon.

Quite agree. I'm sure people from Doncaster understand that their issues are less pressing than Zelenskyy's

I really doubt that Doncaster wants him.

Diplomacy and negotiation is the only way to stop the whole damned nightmare there.

Are you suggesting that it would be possible to negotiate with Putin? Maybe you’ve not been watching the same broadcasts that I have, but Putin is a determined dictator. Traditionally the world over it has not been possible to negotiate with dictators. Putin is no different.

henetha

I'm not a member of Boris' fan club. Never have been. But the constant cynicism about his motives is unpleasant. I think the Ukraine is urgent enough to warrant his visit there. Three other European leaders were there the day before. Were all their visit's unnecessary too?
Smileless is right; how can any of us possibly know for sure.
But some on here talk as if they do.

Good post henetha. I agree with you. Ukraine is far more urgent than any visit that was to be made here in the UK. Of course it couldn’t be made public beforehand, it’s called security!

I really doubt that Doncaster wants him.

Fine. There’s no problem with the missed visit then is there? They apparently don’t want him to visit, according to Maizie.

Zelensky is proving a very useful distraction for PM:
6 June - 8.10am Brady announces vote of no confidence in PM, 11.50am PM call with Zelensky announced;
19 May Met probe ends with 126 fines, PM call with Zalensky announced;
5 May interest rates go up 1% to highest level in 13 years, call to Zelensky announced;
12 April PM fined over Partgate, PM call with Zelensky announced ......and there is more (source I-news)

Cheers, Maddyone.

I don't know what Doncaster wanted, but the Northern and Red Wall MPs who thought he was coming up there to listen to their proposals, aren't happy.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-wakefield-byelection-tories-b2103522.html

I will complain about him till the cows come ‘henetha* because he’s ruined a country with his cowardly lying conniving way of working
Of course it was a better option to be the ‘hero’ than possibly being heckled or booed
He’s a coward, he lies his way out of anything, and he’d stab his grandmother in the back and walk over her if he got a chance

maddyone

^I really doubt that Doncaster wants him.^

Fine. There’s no problem with the missed visit then is there? They apparently don’t want him to visit, according to Maizie.

Not quite the message I was trying to convey, maddyone. But, heigh ho, put your own spin on it.

I expect the local tories feel a bit miffed, but I doubt if over all Doncaster people were much bothered by his absence.

I agree with you Maizie that the local Tories may be feeling ‘a bit miffed.’ However it is correct in my opinion that the awful ongoing situation in Ukraine is a higher priority than a visit to Doncaster. The support offered to Ukraine by the UK and many other countries, is crucial to maintain both the level of aid and morale. I feel desperately sorry for the people of Ukraine who need to know that the world is behind them. They must take priority.

Johnson thinks there are more gung-ho votes in Ukraine than the North and he may be right, at least for Wakefield.

Grantanow

Johnson thinks there are more gung-ho votes in Ukraine than the North and he may be right, at least for Wakefield.

Do you think so? Why?

I'm not local to the area so it's hard to tell.

henetha

I'm not a member of Boris' fan club. Never have been. But the constant cynicism about his motives is unpleasant. I think the Ukraine is urgent enough to warrant his visit there. Three other European leaders were there the day before. Were all their visit's unnecessary too?
Smileless is right; how can any of us possibly know for sure.
But some on here talk as if they do.

And don’t they just!

Non of us know why Johnson changed his plans yesterday.

maddyone

I agree with you Maizie that the local Tories may be feeling ‘a bit miffed.’ However it is correct in my opinion that the awful ongoing situation in Ukraine is a higher priority than a visit to Doncaster. The support offered to Ukraine by the UK and many other countries, is crucial to maintain both the level of aid and morale. I feel desperately sorry for the people of Ukraine who need to know that the world is behind them. They must take priority.

maddyone I can't think of a single situation that would require him to drop everything, change his plans at a moment's notice, not visit a seat which is imperative he should win, and alienate his own party members. And then pop up shaking hands with the man we all now think is the defender of the free world, even though some people are prepared to believe that he is so central to Ukraine's conflict they need him beyond everybody else. Maybe we're all wrong and it will come to light that there was some event that needed him in person, right there, at that moment. I'll wait to be convinced but I'm not holding my breath.

We all support Ukraine, but I can't see how they could need Johnson, of all people, at the drop of a hat. I don't think he is as important as he would like to make us believe. He could have gone today.

I have a brain that has experience of the world as do I volver, so are you suggesting that anyone who doesn't share your point of view is some how lacking in grey matter or has less experience of the world than you do?

I agree maddyone about the situation in Ukraine being a higher priority. Maybe some were hoping his absence was due to something insignificant and are miffed at the reason he wasn't in Doncaster.