Why on earth was Boris on holiday?

Anniel

I should have known that…But he is writing a book …whatever. I cannot let you have the last word

I’ll have it, please!
It’s about Shakespeare and called ‘The Riddle of Genius’.
It was to be published in 2016 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of WS’s death.

Johnson still hasn’t written it.

He was paid an advance of half a million pounds by Hodder & Staunton, and the US publishers.

So it’s another job he’s been paid for and not done.

Sunak's wealth is immaterial.

What we should worry about is that he has appointed Braverman, Coffey, Williamson and the rest of them, to Cabinet. Braverman had to leave her post last week for being a security risk.

Sunak's credibility all shot to hell in one short afternoon.

Annie1 Maybe you could stop criticising people for things you imagine they've done because it suits your agenda. Please show me where I have criticised the new PM.

He is no wealthier than many other politicians

He and his wife are the 222nd richest people in Britain. They have twice as much money as the Queen had. We can defend or criticise his policies all we want, but when you start saying he's not really rich compared to other politicians, that's rubbish, I'm afraid.

Hedge fund managers are “the scum of the earth” because their aim is to make money regardless of the consequences.
Just remember, for every profit made there is a loss made and a commission taken. Not only that but “inside information” is widely used illegally

There is no doubt that Rishi, like many other smart people earn large salaries and commission.
.What do you think is wealth? People who own property in inner London have wealth because their homes are worth a considerable amount of money. North London and some other areas of London cost a lot to buy. A two bedroomed flat can cost £800,000 and more. Sir Keir Starmer, Emily Thornberry, Tony Blair, Diane Abbott all have properties that are worth extremely large amounts of money. Sir Keir was a top earner as chief of Public Prosecutions. So really Rishi Sunak like many other politicians has a lot of money. He is no wealthier than many other politicians so why are you picking on him? I keep wondering why it is always Conservative politicians who cause such opprobrium? Have you looked at Tony and Cherie Blair? Count the number of properties he owns. I recall Jim Callaghan and Denis Healey who owned large farms in East Sussex near where I lived in early 80s. I do not agree with any of you who make a big hoo haa about Rishi. In USA and Australia people who do well and become rich through hard work, brains and ambition are admired for their get up and go. There are plenty of entrepreneurs in UK who were raised in humble circumstances and are rich. I say good on them. Rishi’s parents had to flee Africa. Both were well educated and worked hard in UK and gave their children the best start. So for goodness sake stop criticising our new PM. Good on him as they would say in Australia when people succeed.

Annie1 So you agree that Sunak is a wealthy man in his own right? Presumably you agree with Normandygirl that his parents were/are wealthy too (certainly compared with most people). I don't understand what point you're making.

By the way, being a hedge fund manager requires a certain type of financial brain - it doesn't mean somebody has the macro-economic understanding or values to run a national economy.

Normandygitl Rishi is one smart man. Like many Oxbridge graduates he went into the city and became a hedge fund manager. That takes a real financial brain. He would have earned far more in the city than in politics. His own wealth in the city would not be unusual. I dont know how many well educated ambitious Asians you know. They are often prodigiously hard working and are a real credit to this country!

"It's Rishi's wife who comes from a wealthy family, not him."

We all have a different opinion as to what constitutes wealthy.
Sunak's parents being able to afford £ 72,000 a year in prep school fees and £150,000 a year in boarding school fees puts them on my wealthy list.
Rishi was already a multi- millionaire in his own right in his mid twenties, well before his marriage to Akshata.

I should have known that…But he is writing a book …whatever. I cannot let you have the last word

Aw, it's nice to be appreciated.

Johnson wrote the book about Churchill in 2014. ?

Volver, I know you do not feel picked on. Very few gransnettters would oppose your views, except for a small number who get rather fed up with being a minority. Most of us cannot meet the stellar standards of your posts. And we all don’t have a PhD. I notice that the majority of active members regard people who voted for Brexit as being poorly educated, racist or just plain dumb. We did make an effort to join the European Community during DeGaulle’s French Presidency, but he did not want us and made sure we could not interfere in the planning of the EU. I think that Brexit has been badly handled because Boris lacked the drive and the will to make it happen. Re the Batley Grammar School teacher, the current MP, Ms Leadbetter did offer him her support, but was asked not to intervene by him. But I could not ascertain what has happened in 2022 after March when he was still not at school. I take an interest because I am a member of the Free Speech Union ( which you may find ironic) and the Union took took up his case. This thread has now run its course so I will not post on this subject again. Already Sir Keir has rapped the knuckles of a Labour MP who wrote that as Rishi is so rich he could not possibly understand the lives of ordinary people. I hope this will not be the tenor of future remarks of Labour MPs. Hopefully, Boris will now shut up and get on writing his book about Churchill.

No work ethic at all.

And he’s not the only one either.

I believe Lizz Truss hardly ever visited her constituency in Norfolk.
They are a lazy bunch of t.....s!!

I cannot believe, after the shenanigans of the last few weeks that ANYONE can talk of the 'horrors' of Kier Starmer and a Labour government! How bad does it have to get!!

I continue to wonder what the iniquities of Labour politicians and persons being paid ridiculous amounts to chase a ball have to do with Boris Johnson being a lazy a***! No-one (as far as I can see) has claimed that everyone apart from Boris is a saint. The very valid point is being made that he tends to be off gallivanting when he should be doing his job. When he was Mayor of London most of the work was done by others. He has it down to a fine art, and it's not good to see this sort of behaviour lauded, and given the top job in the country.

And on the subject of people with loads of money, I actually think there is something revolting about certain individuals being mega-rich while others struggle to keep warm and feed their families. I'm 71, only just about comfortably off (because still working) but I would willingly pay £100/month extra tax if I could see that going to those poor families who are afraid of winter now - as long as that was proportionately matched by the very rich. Is that Socialism, or just human kindness? We need more of the latter.

Because his like most of them,..,grabbers ! People getting Desperate, cold and hungry and they play, taking the money and the P out of this country…,

Looking at all the comments, this is how I see things. Most (but not quite all) politicians lie, at least to some extent. Most (but not quite all) politicians are principally motivated by a wish for power. That applies to a great extent to all parties and it's the nature of our political system - it favours the power-hungry, the cynical, the narcissistic. This is in contrast to certain indigenous people who choose the wisest person, who usually does not WANT to lead, as leader.

Having said of all this, Johnson took lack of principle, lying and self-centredness to a new level. Going forwards this has had some bad effects that extend far beyond the man himself. It has somehow made blatant lying acceptable - something we just have a little laugh about and say 'Oh! - it's just Boris!' Other politicians now seem to be following suit. Liz Truss, for instance, came out with some far-fetched claims that, unfortunately for her, she did not have the chutzpah - or other qualities - to make convincing.

The other Johnson effect has been the cynical, self-serving way he got rid of more experienced people who could have been a moderating influence, thus leaving the party impoverished. Like Trump (not as bad, but...) he has had a horrible effect on general expectation of truth, coming from the mouths of those in public office. Anything goes, if you can get away with it, and ho! ho! we're all rich boys together and who cares about the plebs. Many people love his naughty boy style and they don't look far enough beyond it - and that makes him dangerous.

Despite all of this, I do have hopes for Sunak - fingers crossed I'm not wrong.

As for MPs holidays, if their partners and families want holidays while the House is in session, they should go alone! MPs have enough time off. When Parliament is in session they should d* well do their job!

BJ has always been a law unto himself in every single aspect of his political career - he's broken rules, repeatedly told lies, shielded other rule breakers, done numerous dodgy financial deals all to his personal benefit, and walked all over the protocols that he set up for the population when it suited him. That anyone is surprised he absented himself from parliament at a crucial time is amazing. That people wanted him to return to stand again as PM for yet more of the above is more astonishing. Thank goodness the fat lady has finally sung. Goodbye BJ.

RichmondPark1

chatterbox2

So the Boris bashing continues please can we let it rest now give the poor bloke a break

It's because Johnson has already had so many breaks that we're here discussing him.

boom boom! Yes!

Haters gonna hate? I guess lovers gonna love too!

chatterbox2

So the Boris bashing continues please can we let it rest now give the poor bloke a break

It's because Johnson has already had so many breaks that we're here discussing him.

Fleurpepper

He spent most of the Summer with his family in Greece and in Slovenia- when he was still PM, and in a crisis.

But then we could argue Parliament was in recess...

But last couple of weeks? He is still MP for UXbridge, and paid for it. He should therefore have been in his Constituency, doing his job, serving his Consituents, and representing them in the House. How can this be allowed?

Thats what Johnson is like amongst much else.

If you didn't know what he was like before, you do now.

Lazy, arrogant, rude, rules are made for others, cheat, pathological liar, abuser and so on

He hasn't changed and never will

Can you list the MP's who have taken time off for a holiday when Parliament is sitting ? Apart from Nadine Dorries that is, and anyone who is ill or having treatment.

You have to admit though, Penny Mordor played a blinder

I'm sorry, I know that pointing out typos and autocorrects is not really on. But this is the best typo of the day. ?

JaneJudge

In answer to the original post. My MP is mainly absent too, I have no idea why people vote for invisible, lazy MPs (whatever their party)

My MP is the same - he lives in the British Virgin Isles instead of West Devon where he is supposed to work.
Are we talking about the same fellow?