Missing in-action

If Johnson is now a Caretaker he’s either a) stripping the wallpaper off ready for the next occupant b) clearing out the empties and cleaning the carpets c) planning which of his many offspring he will avoid taking care of over the holidays and which (lucky little blighter will get to take him to Peppa Pig World) d) running around Westminster shouting “here’s Johnsony” e) touting for jobs which pay more than £1M f) all.

It’s a potential emergency as public services - the health services, ambulances , fire services have been so depleted by successive Tory governments so that any extra demands on them , which are bound to happen as a direct result of excessive heat, will make their collapse even more imminent. That’s why it’s a political issue. Most people will be fine - some vulnerable groups and the completely stupid who go swimming after drinking alcohol or getting sunburnt will sadly not be. I wouldn’t fancy being 12 or more hours in A and E at anytime , but it’s more likely to happen with extreme weather.

Sorry ?

It's good enough to read twice though.

Oh. It doesn't seem to have posted.

Totally fed up with listening to the scaremongering of the hot weather. It’s summer, it’s hot. Do we really need to be told to drink water and stay in the shade. What is the matter with people. Use your common sense. Cobra has many people totally capable people without calling in Boris.

Well said vampire ???

vampirequeen

This isn't Boris bashing before anyone accuses me of it. When I pay a tradesman I expect the job to be carried out properly. When I purchase something from a shop I expect the product to be fit for purpose. When I contribute to the pay of the Prime Minister I expect him/her to do what is required of him/her. This will include PMQ's, cabinet meetings, chairing committees and any other role that is congruent with and/or expected of the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson has decided not to fulfil his duties as Prime Minister. Rather he has chosen to miss Cobra meetings in favour of hosting his leaving party, playing at being Tom Cruise and visiting Farnborough Air Show. I have no problem with him doing any of these activities in his spare time but the Prime Minister is on call 24/7 and, whilst in office, I expect whoever it might be to do the job to the highest standard possible. That's what we pay for and that's what we have the right to expect.

Very well said VQ ??????????

This isn't Boris bashing before anyone accuses me of it. When I pay a tradesman I expect the job to be carried out properly. When I purchase something from a shop I expect the product to be fit for purpose. When I contribute to the pay of the Prime Minister I expect him/her to do what is required of him/her. This will include PMQ's, cabinet meetings, chairing committees and any other role that is congruent with and/or expected of the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson has decided not to fulfil his duties as Prime Minister. Rather he has chosen to miss Cobra meetings in favour of hosting his leaving party, playing at being Tom Cruise and visiting Farnborough Air Show. I have no problem with him doing any of these activities in his spare time but the Prime Minister is on call 24/7 and, whilst in office, I expect whoever it might be to do the job to the highest standard possible. That's what we pay for and that's what we have the right to expect.

He's still PM (still getting his salary and perks) and it's his job to chair COBRA meetings. But now he's been spurned he's turning his back on the country. He's like a stroppy teenager only instead of flouncing off to his room he's off to Chequers.

sazz1

Really can't see what all the fuss is about. Most on here wanted Boris out. So he's going. Most wanted him to go immediately. So why do most want him to chair a meeting or be at any meetings?
Perhaps because they feel nobody is as competent as him?

No. Because if he insists on staying on as 'caretaker' he should be earning his money and caretaking.

Which he isn't.

If he were the boss of the 'can't understand what the fuss is about' folks I think they'd be complaining loudly about him taking the money while doing nothing to earn it.

He's just a grifter...

I have no intention of defending Boris Johnson, but I do wonder why we are all wasting our time expecting him to change now?

If he had wanted to or been able to change in any way, he would surely have done it long since.

Another point that could be consider here is that most people do not take a great deal of interest in their job once they have either been fired or handed in their resignation.

The sad thing is that there is little choice in rotten apples and it does not seem to me that any of the contenders for leader of the Conservative party have any idea how they intend to get the country out of its present dire situation.

Nothing is likely to change much before the next general election, and it is still some way off.

Unless someone has stood for election to leader of a major political party, whether they could do better is irrelevant. It's like asking if we could do better than a nurse at nursing or a teacher at teaching.

It's not a national pastime to 'Boris bash'. It has become more and more the case that people have so much about his leadership about which to complain, which is not at all the same thing. 'Bashing' sounds as though people who have a useless leader (as decided by his own party!) have no right to say so, and are mindlessly criticising. We are not. We are saying that at a time of (government declared) National Emergency we should expect the PM to lead the government in making policy decisions about how to deal with it. Yes, he will be briefed by the experts so despised by the Tories until they needed them to 'deliver the vaccination programme' for which they take credit, but ultimately policy decisions are at least nominally in Johnson's hands, and he needs to be at meetings if he is to make them with any degree of competence.

Baggs

If social services and carers (visiting or in homes for the elderly) are doing their jobs properly, why does government need to be involved in looking after (how, anyway?) old people at risk from the effects of a summer heatwave?

Rule no 1 for PMs in national emergencies: turn up.

It may even be practically counterproductive, but people seem to expect it.

I find it amazing that this country is in a panic about some never known before high temperatures yet will willingly pay thousands of pounds to jet off somewhere that regularly has these highs.

Of course, must be Boris's fault. Yes, let's blame him as it
seems Boris bashing has become a national past-time.

I ask the question folks - while he maybe not everyone's choice right now, in his shoes, could you do better?

Whinge, whinge, whinge. Perhaps you will soon be blaming him for the heatwave. Who knows, people are stupid enough to do so, or are you not derogatory enough?

Enough said. Just carry on bleating.

Regards to all!

BJ will be too busy packing boxes for his removal to attend meetings. After all Cartie has two children to look after in the heatwave.

Really can't see what all the fuss is about. Most on here wanted Boris out. So he's going. Most wanted him to go immediately. So why do most want him to chair a meeting or be at any meetings?
Perhaps because they feel nobody is as competent as him?

Who did chair the Cobra meeting? Was even Dominic Raab, as deputy, there? I haven't been able to find that out.

I do know that he has said in public that "People should be resilient enough to enjoy the sunshine."
Before anyone says 'yes, of course!' I an 81 and at risk, and I am taking this declared emergency seriously.

Surely Boris staying on as PM but not actually doing the job amounts to having his cake and eating it. I don't think that there's any real excuse.

As for belittling the possible risks of an extreme heatwave, the government estimates that 1600 people died last year due to heat related causes and it wasn't as hot as it is now. The vast majority of deaths due to heat stress in the UK are amongst the over 65s.

I doubt Cobra can do much other than survey the scene. The real work falls on the relevant services, underfunded as they often are. But we can do without loose cannon like Raab and Malthouse implying people should go to the coast or to work when they would be best advised to stay at home. I see Truss and Sunak have just pulled out of the next TV debate as it's damaging to the party. Which party? The Tory party or Johnson party?

He like the rest of the government do not care a S--- about us the people they are supposed to repersent they care only for lining their pockets and partying the soone Boris is kicked out nd his cronies with him the better then the new PM should call an election and let the people show them who they really trust if any

Sorry Nannina our posts crossed!

What is the point of a deputy prime minister? Surely he should have been put in charge and Boris should leave immediately…?

DiamondLily

Johnson is still being paid his salary, so he should try and act like a PM for once, instead of pretending he's Top Gun and arranging a freebie party for his chums..

Oh please can we not keep dragging the ‘party’ on and on.