Gransnet forums

Chat

Build Back Better

(24 Posts)
Baggs Sat 09-Oct-21 12:05:45

Is it true that Jacinda Ardern was the first person to use this phrase? Just wondering as I read something today that seemed to be saying she was.

FannyCornforth Sat 09-Oct-21 12:22:44

I just googled and according to Wikipedia it was first used in relation to ‘disaster risk reduction’ in Japan.

Baggs Sat 09-Oct-21 12:43:19

Interesting, FC. Thanks.

FannyCornforth Sat 09-Oct-21 12:43:50

As an afterthought, what are we building back from?
Is it ‘disaster risk reduction’ for the UK too? shock

Baggs Sat 09-Oct-21 12:47:20

When it's used with reference to the UK, I've always interpreted it as being about building back to 'normality' after the pandemic. I could be way out of course!

Hetty58 Sat 09-Oct-21 12:52:12

The whole idea of 'back to normality' makes me shudder. Have we learned nothing?

Casdon Sat 09-Oct-21 13:29:26

Sorry, but as a slogan it reminds me of Betta Builda, which was the alternative to Lego in my childhood.

Alegrias1 Sat 09-Oct-21 13:42:28

uk.news.yahoo.com/boris-johnson-releases-bizarre-videos-153800477.html

For the "You really couldn't make it up" section.

(Sorry about the long advert at the start)

Early Sat 09-Oct-21 14:18:02

Alegriasa1

This week's HIGNFY made me laugh which includes that clip and more. Four minutes in.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0010byf/have-i-got-news-for-you-series-62-episode-1

Ross Noble: Build Back Better as one of the lesser know Hobbits. Bilbo Baggins and his mate Build Back Better.

The fact that Head Boy in punning on it at every opportunity ... (what is Build Back Beaver, for heavens sake?) shows it up as the hollow, meaningless soundbite he knows it it.

Never a Smaug around when you need one.

Alegrias1 Sat 09-Oct-21 14:27:33

I thought they were just going for it - expecting to be cancelled and getting all the criticisms of the government in as quick as they could. That virologist/comedian was so funny and clever.

trisher Sat 09-Oct-21 14:32:31

As it was conceived and is generally used to rebuild after a disaster I can only assume that the Tories are acknowledging that their last 10 years of government constitute a disaster.

Early Sat 09-Oct-21 14:44:12

I thought they were all on good form. Ria Lina maybe a little too rehearsed as if she was doing her stand up but was that her first time ever on the show? In which case, I forgive her. Few can be as spontaneously and off-the-wall funny as Paul Merton. Lidl Rishi and his invisible budgie! smile

JaneJudge Sat 09-Oct-21 20:28:24

omg HIGNFY was wonderful! grin

Hetty58 Sat 09-Oct-21 20:38:13

trisher - spot on!

Doodledog Sat 09-Oct-21 21:36:58

It reminds me of those comedy series about the BBC, in which Hugh Bonneville played Head of Better.

GillT57 Sat 09-Oct-21 23:44:25

HIGNFY was such a wonderful refreshing change,delighted to welcome it back and so happy to spend half an hour with intelligent people who feel the same about the political class as I do. It really cheered me up to realise I am not alone

JaneJudge Sun 10-Oct-21 10:54:11

did he really say build back beaver though?

Alegrias1 Sun 10-Oct-21 10:57:41

JaneJudge

did he really say build back beaver though?

Sadly, yes

www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/10/06/meaning-of-build-back-beaver-explained-as-boris-johnson-does-it-again/

JaneJudge Sun 10-Oct-21 11:01:58

Jeez sad I'd also missed this little gem

the skipper of a cruise liner that has been captured by Somali pirates hmm all the fuss made over Angela Rayner's private speech and he says stuff like that in public

GillT57 Sun 10-Oct-21 11:39:46

I suppose it is Build Back Benidorm now that the blonde bombshell and his current family are on holiday.

FannyCornforth Sun 10-Oct-21 11:47:20

Gill grin

MaizieD Sun 10-Oct-21 11:54:21

I thought we were Building Back Better from the 'broken economic model' introduced by Mrs Thatcher and her devotees in the 1980s, and carried on until the present day by Conservative Governments.

You know, the model where you destroy manufacturing industry, sell off all our utilities to foreign countries and businesses, chase people into low paid insecure jobs by making being on benefits humiliatingly difficult... etc...

hazel93 Sun 10-Oct-21 11:58:27

I love HIGNFY. Merton is brilliant on a good day but Hislop on a rant, debunking all the crap we are supposed to swallow is so very good.
Laughter certainly does help in these troubled times I find.

GillT57 Sun 10-Oct-21 12:01:35

Oh yes, Hislop on one of his rants is a joy to behold and the highlight of my week. At last the little boy in the crowd is shouting out that the Emperor has no clothes.........