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Humza Yusaf's resignation speech

(132 Posts)
M0nica Mon 29-Apr-24 20:00:51

What a joy it was to listen to, not for political reasons, but because of his command of language and oratorical skills.

His speech was measured with a beautifully chosen vocabulary and a measured delivery.

Nowadays when Boris Johnsons expostulations and arm waving is considered the epitome of political oratory. It was just so nice to hear a politician who really did have a command of language and delivery.

He may of course have been talking drivel, I wasn't really concenrating on what he said, but how he said it.

Callistemon21 Tue 30-Apr-24 10:18:20

OldFrill

I think claiming he's "a decent man" demonstrates little understanding of him.

I will admit to that!

Callistemon21 Tue 30-Apr-24 10:14:14

Urmstongran

His first marriage was to an SNP lady (don’t know details) who had converted to the Muslim faith on marriage. He had an affair - citing that his wife ‘wasn’t Muslim enough’.

It shows how much notice I've taken of him as I hadn't heard the scandal, so much of the news has been concentrated on the Murrell-Sturgeons.
So he's just a regular type of scandalous politician, then, and a smooth talker?

tickingbird Tue 30-Apr-24 09:21:25

Hitler was a great orator. Hardly the measure of a decent man.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 30-Apr-24 09:13:46

My feelings exactly, Iam.

Urmstongran Tue 30-Apr-24 09:08:31

The joke doing the rounds is “oh poor Humza looks in need of a holiday - he should ask could he borrow the campervan”.
🤣

Iam64 Tue 30-Apr-24 09:04:57

I wasn’t impressed, which rather surprised me. Yes, he’s articulate but I found him too focussed on himself and over emotional. I don’t have a problem with expressed emotion usually but I became increasingly ill at ease as he talked on about himself, his wife, his ethnic origins, the PM being a Hindu etc etc.
I’m genuinely pleased that people in politics are beginning to reflect the communities they serve but his self awareness fell short imo. Plus - no acknowledgement that I heard that his tenure hasn’t been a stunning success

Casdon Tue 30-Apr-24 08:22:57

I think Galloway is a good orator, he’s passionate and clear, knows his subject and keeps a strong thread- but I switch off from anything he says because I can’t bear him, and I suspect most other people do too.
I think it’s the background knowledge of a subject, and debating skills that many politicians (and their speech writers) lack, and that results in rambling and obfuscation. If you don’t know an answer, bluffing doesn’t work in my opinion. I always respect people who say they don’t know, but will find out and come back to it - and do that.

Bonnybanko Tue 30-Apr-24 08:16:49

Good morning all it’s dry and windy here on the east coast of Fife and yes Monica Humzas speech was so eloquent just like the man I met last Friday who’s in need of a rest and as he said, politics can be so brutal. I’m hoping he recovers well from all the backstabbing he’s experienced recently he’s definitely a man of integrity who won’t bow down to others views just to gain popularity and power

M0nica Tue 30-Apr-24 08:13:12

Galloway has a way with words, but he doesn't strike me as a good orator.

Its just that most politicians sound incoherent to me and unable to formulate a proper argument or statement to explain or justify their views. This is why they more and more fall back on not answering questions, but parroting statements that are usually irrelevant and avoid the issue.

i sometimes find myself wanting to push the politician out of the way and answer the question for them. I could generally do a far better job. that applies to politicians of all parties.

Freya5 Tue 30-Apr-24 08:12:43

Callistemon21

OldFrill

I think claiming he's "a decent man" demonstrates little understanding of him.

Oh, really?

In what way? Are you aware of scandals re dubious dating sites, contracts for cronies, blackmail etc that the rest of us don't know about?

He's a race baiter. That does not make him a decent man.
That makes him divisive, "people like me" divisive, couldn't resist a dig on Israel. Hate crime laws, makes him divisive, more like the Stazi. Using taxpayer money, wonder how his family got out of Gaza , oh yes his wife knows Erdoğan, to donate to UNRWA, suspected of supporting Hamas. He cried crocodile tears. Scotland,and the UK, is well rid.

Louella12 Tue 30-Apr-24 08:12:15

I'm afraid his white, white, white speech made me pay no attention to his speech.

A good speech delivery doesn't make him a good politician.

Casdon Tue 30-Apr-24 08:04:53

I can see what you mean Monica, his delivery was very good. I’m not sure being a good orator equates to being a good politician though - probably the best orator in parliament at the moment is George Galloway.

M0nica Tue 30-Apr-24 07:59:17

Speech writers have to write as the speech giver speaks, and they will usually do the final cut to the speech they give.

Mrs Thatcher occasionally made the mistake of giving unedited speeches, complete with jokes she never recognised or understood and soon learnt the error of her ways.

Despite Scottish roots, a Scottish maiden name, filtered through Northern Ireland, my interest in Scottish politics is zilch, unless it hits the court pages, and recent arrests suggest this is possible, so I know absolutely nothing about Hamza Yousef, wouldn't recognise him if I came nose-to-nose with him on a tube train and i know no more of the Scots Nats than their name implied.

I just heard a speech well given and well delivered and, given the current abysmal level of political speech, it stood head and shoulders above anything else I have heard for years.

Which under the circumstances is a damning indictment of what a cr*p load of politicians we have at the moment.

Urmstongran Tue 30-Apr-24 07:49:18

His first marriage was to an SNP lady (don’t know details) who had converted to the Muslim faith on marriage. He had an affair - citing that his wife ‘wasn’t Muslim enough’.

Curtaintwitcher Tue 30-Apr-24 06:18:58

What matters is the sort of politician he is, not how he speaks. I'm surprised that he was elected leader in the first place, I suspect it was just ticking a box.
Like so many in politics, he used his position to further his own pet causes, instead of doing what was best for the country.
Let us hope that lessons have been learned and his successor is chosen for the right reasons.

nanna8 Tue 30-Apr-24 02:49:36

Any politician these days can’t do right for doing wrong. Awful job. You’d need the hide of an elephant and a by pass on normal emotions. So many critics, whatever you do or say.

Namsnanny Tue 30-Apr-24 01:49:44

OldFrill

He has 2 speech writers

I'm not sure but I thought Harold Wilson wrote his own speeches. I know he derided the the PM (ADH), for employing a speech writer.
I don't know if he carried on when he became PM in '64 though.

I've tried to listen to HY resignation speech, but the content of it sounds so insincere I abandon it.

I don't care how they deliver it, so long as it is clear sincere and as near to reality as their profession allows.

Come to think of it I can't remember the last time I heard such an offering grin

OldFrill Tue 30-Apr-24 00:37:07

Urmstongran

Yikes! What a speech. Well modulated, erudite. And yet …
Another racist speech by Humza. ‘People like me’ and if I was to say “people like you” I would be accused of racism. Keen on his family now … don’t suppose he ever had an affair?
😁

He plays the minority card to his favour at every opportunity, yet he has a far, far more privileged background than almost all other Scots, and particularly Scots-Asians. He's about as much in touch with the ordinary Scot as Pol Pot (who, given his hate bill, he may share common ground with).
It was frequently suggested his temper would be his downfall and so it's proved.

OldFrill Mon 29-Apr-24 23:46:01

Google it, two out of three are easy to find.

Callistemon21 Mon 29-Apr-24 23:25:51

OldFrill

I think claiming he's "a decent man" demonstrates little understanding of him.

Oh, really?

In what way? Are you aware of scandals re dubious dating sites, contracts for cronies, blackmail etc that the rest of us don't know about?

OldFrill Mon 29-Apr-24 23:17:59

I think claiming he's "a decent man" demonstrates little understanding of him.

Callistemon21 Mon 29-Apr-24 23:13:40

He does seem to be a decent man and there are seemingly fewer of them in politics now.

Callistemon21 Mon 29-Apr-24 23:07:42

He may of course have been talking drivel, I wasn't really concenrating on what he said, but how he said it.

😂

Sometimes you can just gaze at someone who is speaking beautifully then realise you hadn't actually listened to a word they said.
Humza Yusaf isn't actually one who would come to my mind.

However, I wish they'd stop showing ths clip of him skidding off his scooter. It reminds me of the clip they kept showing of Kinnock falling into the sea.
Although both were trying to show off at the time.

OldFrill Mon 29-Apr-24 23:03:57

He has 2 speech writers

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 29-Apr-24 22:02:52

When he started to thank his family it was reminiscent of a speech at the Oscars - I always wait for them to mention their pet goldfish.