Boris Johnson is a liability.

[deltic]

well I used to have a job that was half and half... some weeks I would be home every evening... with an hrs commute each way...cook my own meals when I got home... do the housework etc etc... other weeks I'd be put up in a hotel every night... meals cooked and served.. housekeeping doing all the chores... can't think why but I always preferred being on tour rather than service work!?!

As to the average salary in Westminster... that's immaterial... the primary place of work of an MP is in their own constituency!

MPs spend most of their time at Westminster rather than in their constituency unless they are local to London. Most will also have a family rather than being single as you state you are.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

MPs spend most of their time at Westminster rather than in their constituency unless they are local to London. Most will also have a family rather than being single as you state you are.

oh? MP's spend most of their time in Westminster do they? strange how the benches are always so empty in the chamber most of the time!

 

[muddythefish]

That’s rather ungracious.

There are more than a few train drivers with various qualifications (ranging right up to degrees from prestigious high-demand universities) and/or who have done other things beforehand or in a few cases alongside. Either people who have already made their fortunes, prefer the shift pattern giving things like days off in the week, or God forbid just like the railway!

Rather like a dustman enjoys emptying bins - I see what you mean

 

[muddythefish]

...
We already have a bit of a talent crisis brewing, hence why Boris is even a serious proposition for PM!

.

This has to be a Boris joke, surely ?

Alexander (for it is he) accuses May in very florid language of triggering national/constitutional suicide. Yet he has already done far more damage to this country than she could possibly do in her worst moments, by virtue of appointing himself as liar-in-chief to the lying Leave campaign, and then obstructing in Cabinet every proposal May tried to put forward for the last two years for a semi-sensible form of Brexit.

The biggest service May can now perform for this country is to stay long enough in office to prevent this ghastly self-regarding, cynical, posturing opportunist from getting any where near No. 10. For the present sad UK political scene, the man is the equivalent of a giant floating turd that refuses to be flushed away.

His talent as a wordsmith emphatically does not carry over to political wisdom, maturity or statesmanship. What does it take for his half-witted Tory fans to work this out?

 

[deltic]

oh? MP's spend most of their time in Westminster do they? strange how the benches are always so empty in the chamber most of the time!

If they spent all their time in the Chamber little would get done.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

This has to be a Boris joke, surely ?

Alexander (for it is he) accuses May in very florid language of triggering national/constitutional suicide. Yet he has already done far more damage to this country than she could possibly do in her worst moments, by virtue of appointing himself as liar-in-chief to the lying Leave campaign, and then obstructing in Cabinet every proposal May tried to put forward for the last two years for a semi-sensible form of Brexit.

The biggest service May can now perform for this country is to stay long enough in office to prevent this ghastly self-regarding, cynical, posturing opportunist from getting any where near No. 10. For the present sad UK political scene, the man is the equivalent of a giant floating turd that refuses to be flushed away.

His talent as a wordsmith emphatically does not carry over to political wisdom, maturity or statesmanship. What does it take for his half-witted Tory fans to work this out?

I take it you're a fan of BoJo then?

 

[bramling]

This has to be a Boris joke, surely ?

Alexander (for it is he) accuses May in very florid language of triggering national/constitutional suicide. Yet he has already done far more damage to this country than she could possibly do in her worst moments, by virtue of appointing himself as liar-in-chief to the lying Leave campaign, and then obstructing in Cabinet every proposal May tried to put forward for the last two years for a semi-sensible form of Brexit.

The biggest service May can now perform for this country is to stay long enough in office to prevent this ghastly self-regarding, cynical, posturing opportunist from getting any where near No. 10. For the present sad UK political scene, the man is the equivalent of a giant floating turd that refuses to be flushed away.

His talent as a wordsmith emphatically does not carry over to political wisdom, maturity or statesmanship. What does it take for his half-witted Tory fans to work this out?

The big problem is the Conservatives have no obvious leadership candidates. Boris does, sort of, have a track record of electoral success in the Mayor of London elections - albeit this is no ringing endorsement given London’s seeming tendency to want to elect odious freaks.

Labour aren’t any better.

Unless someone comparatively unknown suddenly appears, Britain really does have a problem going forward. We’ve already seen what happens when we get “none of the above” candidates - May and Major are both examples of this.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

The big problem is the Conservatives have no obvious leadership candidates. Boris does, sort of, have a track record of electoral success in the Mayor of London elections - albeit this is no ringing endorsement given London’s seeming tendency to want to elect odious freaks.

Labour aren’t any better.

Unless someone comparatively unknown suddenly appears, Britain really does have a problem going forward. We’ve already seen what happens when we get “none of the above” candidates - May and Major are both examples of this.

don't forget the blessed St Corbyn!

 

[najaB]

truth is, if you stopped the gravy train that MP's salary, perks and expenses has become then perhaps we'd get some MP's that want to do their best for the country rather than what's best for their own pockets!

Going into elective politics is a terrible way to get rich. Much more profitable to get a cushy job in The City.

 

[Bromley boy]

That’s rather ungracious.

There are more than a few train drivers with various qualifications (ranging right up to degrees from prestigious high-demand universities) and/or who have done other things beforehand or in a few cases alongside. Either people who have already made their fortunes, prefer the shift pattern giving things like days off in the week, or God forbid just like the railway!

Excellent response, thanks for this. He’d get a shock if he saw my CV or those of many others employed in various roles on the railway, including yours from the sounds of things!

What a funny little man he must be .

 

[bramling]

There's the problem though... most of our MP's are middle middle class and above, already either having a private income or well paid jobs... suggesting that no matter whether the package offered was £0 or £1 million a yr then Joe Bloggs from down the street wouldn't become an MP... let's not forget that it isn't the public that elects their MP, in effect it is the Party apparachnik of the winning candidate that chooses the MP... after all you have to be selected by your party to stand in the first place... Can you really see the Tory Grandees in a place like Surbiton picking a single mother living on a rough council estate and on benefits as THEIR candidate?


well considering that most welfare benefits are means tested why not MP's salaries? what's good for the goose is good for the gander....

I agree the MP selection process isn’t wonderful. Trouble is it’s hard to think of something better - the whole world uses a political party system so we’re not the only ones to do it this way.

There is a difference between welfare payments and MP salaries. In this case the payment to the goose is an emergency payment to try and keep them above the poverty line, whilst the payment to the gander is their pay/privileges package rewarding them for carrying out an important job role. Personally I’m not really comfortable with means-tested welfare either, but again that’s drifting off topic.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

I agree the MP selection process isn’t wonderful. Trouble is it’s hard to think of something better - the whole world uses a political party system so we’re not the only ones to do it this way.

There is a difference between welfare payments and MP salaries. In this case the payment to the goose is an emergency payment to try and keep them above the poverty line, whilst the payment to the gander is their pay/privileges package rewarding them for carrying out an important job role. Personally I’m not really comfortable with means-tested welfare either, but again that’s drifting off topic.

perhaps a system whereby each party has to put up 3 candidates for each constituency...

 

[muddythefish]

The big problem is the Conservatives have no obvious leadership candidates. Boris does, sort of, have a track record of electoral success in the Mayor of London elections - albeit this is no ringing endorsement given London’s seeming tendency to want to elect odious freaks.

.

Is Alexander "Trumping" his way to Number 10?

"To Trump" is to take something with a germ of truth in it, exaggerating it out of all proportion and then carefully select language that ignites the mindless or malicious media to create a storm that takes over the new agenda. That, in turn, sucks the oxygen out of all the alternative more sensible opinions around.

We have much to fear from this, as the average Daily Mail or Sun reader in this country laps it up every bit as much as the average listener to Fox news lapped up Trump's outbursts in the USA.

Is it a sign of the level of decadence and depravity that Conservative party members have sunk to, that they still consider this odious, mendacious chancer a suitable person to lead our country?

 

[fowler9]

Is Alexander "Trumping" his way to Number 10?

"To Trump" is to take something with a germ of truth in it, exaggerating it out of all proportion and then carefully select language that ignites the mindless or malicious media to create a storm that takes over the new agenda. That, in turn, sucks the oxygen out of all the alternative more sensible opinions around.

We have much to fear from this, as the average Daily Mail or Sun reader in this country laps it up every bit as much as the average listener to Fox news lapped up Trump's outbursts in the USA.

Is it a sign of the level of decadence and depravity that Conservative party members have sunk to, that they still consider this odious, mendacious chancer a suitable person to lead our country?

I know more than a few people through acquaintance that think Alexander would make a good leader because he says what he thinks. The thing is he doesn't seem to think beyond what he thinks is best for him and even then I think he has messed up. If I said what I think to every complainant I deal with in work (Many of whom I guess think Boris would be a good leader) they would want me sacked, not running the country.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

I know more than a few people through acquaintance that think Alexander would make a good leader because he says what he thinks.

There's a problem with your theory there... to say what you think you have to think before you speak... and with BoJo the bozo there is very little evidence of engaging brain before putting mouth in gear...cripes... by the time he gets to the middle of a sentence he's forgotten what it was he was gonna say!

 

[fowler9]

There's a problem with your theory there... to say what you think you have to think before you speak... and with BoJo the bozo there is very little evidence of engaging brain before putting mouth in gear...cripes... by the time he gets to the middle of a sentence he's forgotten what it was he was gonna say!

Ha ha, there is a contradiction in terms there, apologies. I think that there is a difference between being intelligent and having any common sense. BoJo clearly has qualifications but is also an idiot. I am also (apologies for blowing my own trumpet) intelligent but have no common sense. I am different from BoJo though because I feel I have an off switch to an extent. I also don't have the Ego he seems to have.

 

[mmh]

This has to be a Boris joke, surely ?

Alexander (for it is he)

That nonsense never, ever aids an argument. His name is Boris, and like it or not (I don't particularly) he's one of a handful of politicians who're referred to by a forename alone through a combination of having a relatively uncommon name and/or being (in)famous.

I don't use my own first forename (not through any pretension, it was never used), would you do the same to me? I'd be quick sharp at telling you where to go if you did.

I've said it before but anyone who uses, amongst others, Gideon, Wedgewood-Benn, Yaxley-Lennon - there is no point and you've put you're argument onto the back foot before it's even started. "Alexander" for Johnson is a new one to me, and no better I'm afraid.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Ha ha, there is a contradiction in terms there, apologies. I think that there is a difference between being intelligent and having any common sense. BoJo clearly has qualifications but is also an idiot. I am also (apologies for blowing my own trumpet) intelligent but have no common sense. I am different from BoJo though because I feel I have an off switch to an extent. I also don't have the Ego he seems to have.

I'm not sure that he is as intelligent as his qualifications suggest... I have a suspicion that he waffled the examiners into submission lol

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

His name is Boris

Correction his name IS Alexander... in full Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson

I don't use my own first forename (not through any pretension, it was never used), would you do the same to me? I'd be quick sharp at telling you where to go if you did.

I've noticed that it's a particular trait amongst Welsh speakers to use their middle name instead of their first name... but why on earth would you get so upset if someone chose to use the name you was christened with?

 

[fowler9]

I'm not sure that he is as intelligent as his qualifications suggest... I have a suspicion that he waffled the examiners into submission lol

Well here is where I would worry about offending people. He studied Classics. I mean what does it really prove he is good at. I would suggest in some way that he was good at influencing people about what it was he was reading. He is certainly good at influencing people at his interpretation of things, for better or for worse in his case.

 

[Bromley boy]

but why on earth would you get so upset if someone chose to use the name you was christened with?

Surely common courtesy dictates you should address people as they wish to be addressed?

When discussing BoJo in the abstract, I don’t see the point of referring to him as Alexander any more than de Pfeffel. What’s the point when nobody will know who you were talking about and you’ll have to explain it to them?

Then they’d wonder why on Earth you didn't simply used the name everyone else knows him by!

Smells a bit fishy to me!

 

[fowler9]

Surely common courtesy dictates you should address people as they wish to be addressed?

When discussing BoJo in the abstract, I don’t see the point of referring to him as Alexander any more than de Pfeffel. What’s the point when nobody will know who you were talking about and you’ll have to explain it to them?

Then they’d wonder why on Earth you didn't simply used the name everyone else knows him by!

Smells a bit fishy to me!

When referring to someone who frequently ignores common courtesy such as Boris Johnson I don't really care how he feels about what I refer to him as.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Surely common courtesy dictates you should address people as they wish to be addressed?

Well I like to use my middle name, as I like it better than my first name... but until their dying day both my parents refused point blank to call me by my middle name... should I have been offended by them? should I think that they were just downright rude?

When discussing BoJo in the abstract, I don’t see the point of referring to him as Alexander any more than de Pfeffel. What’s the point when nobody will know who you were talking about and you’ll have to explain it to them?

Then they’d wonder why on Earth you didn't simply used the name everyone else knows him by!

Smells a bit fishy to me!

hmm... 3 points here...
1. it is common knowledge that his first name is Alexander and not Boris
2. this is a thread about Boris so it should be fairly evident to anyone, even anyone that doesn't know point 1 above, that you are talking about Boris when the name Alexander is used in reply to a comment that names him as Boris
3. in making your point that you should call people by the name they choose for themselves out of courtesy you use a derogatory nickname that's been given to him by the press... a name that, conceivably, he might find more hurtful/ offensive than Alexander!

 

[Bromley boy]

Well I like to use my middle name, as I like it better than my first name... but until their dying day both my parents refused point blank to call me by my middle name... should I have been offended by them? should I think that they were just downright rude?

It’s a bit different when it comes to parents (although, yes, I would still say parents should refer to their adult children by the name of their choosing).

When it come to people you meet who aren’t family members, yes, it would be extremely rude to call someone by a name they didn’t use.

hmm... 3 points here...
1. it is common knowledge that his first name is Alexander and not Boris
2. this is a thread about Boris so it should be fairly evident to anyone, even anyone that doesn't know point 1 above, that you are talking about Boris when the name Alexander is used in reply to a comment that names him as Boris
3. in making your point that you should call people by the name they choose for themselves out of courtesy you use a derogatory nickname that's been given to him by the press... a name that, conceivably, he might find more hurtful/ offensive than Alexander!

To be clear I’m not saying people shouldn’t refer to Johnson as Alexander because of offending him (I called him a fat oaf myself upthread, and I doubt he spends much time reading the forum anyway!).

But, on a thread discussing the politician known to all of us as Boris Johnson or “BoJo” what on Earth is the point of referring to him by one of his other names not in common use?

It just seems childish and frankly weird.

 

[fowler9]

It’s a bit different when it comes to parents.

When it come to people you meet who aren’t family members, yes, it would be extremely rude to call someone by a name they didn’t use.



To be clear I’m not saying people shouldn’t refer to Johnson as Alexander because of offending him (I called him a fat oaf myself upthread, and I doubt he spends much time reading the forum anyway!).

But, on a thread discussing the politician known to all of us as Boris Johnson or “BoJo” what on Earth is the point of referring to him by one of his other names not in common use?

It just seems childish and frankly weird.

We could call it freedom of speech like supporters of Boris would. Nothing childish about that, just like saying women who wear the veil look like letter boxes is just freedom of speech and not childish.

 

[Bromley boy]

We could call it freedom of speech like supporters of Boris would. Nothing childish about that, just like saying women who wear the veil look like letter boxes is just freedom of speech and not childish.

But what’s the point?

A casual reader of the thread wouldn’t know who was being talked about if they saw references to Alexander.

Call him BJ if you must, that’s both rude and still lets people know you’re referring to the subject of the thread!

 

[mmh]

Well I like to use my middle name, as I like it better than my first name... but until their dying day both my parents refused point blank to call me by my middle name... should I have been offended by them? should I think that they were just downright rude?

That's very different. Your parents named you and chose what they called you. If I introduced myself to you as, say, Gareth, everyone knows me as Gareth but at some point you discover my forenames are James Gareth and decide to call me James instead with some sort of weird implication that there's something wrong in me being called Gareth, I'd think you were rude and just a little bit strange. It's hardly uncommon.

I don't know why Boris Johnson is called Boris rather than Alexander, it may be what he was always called, it may be family tradition. I don't care though, it's completely irrelevant.

hmm... 3 points here...
1. it is common knowledge that his first name is Alexander and not Boris

It is, but only because it's supposedly noteworthy that he has a rather posh and aristocratic sounding full name.

2. this is a thread about Boris so it should be fairly evident to anyone, even anyone that doesn't know point 1 above, that you are talking about Boris when the name Alexander is used in reply to a comment that names him as Boris

The unanswered question is still "why" though. Nobody knows who's meant by "Alexander Johnson" let alone just "Alexander" without unneccessary and pointless heavy labouring. Everyone knows who "Boris" means.

 

[fowler9]

But what’s the point?

A casual reader of the thread wouldn’t know who was being talked about if they saw references to Alexander.

Call him BJ if you must, that’s both rude and still lets people know you’re referring to the subject of the thread!

Ha ha. I kind of agree in the sense that I shouldn't lower myself to the levels of Boris Johnson. He is a massive man baby and it terrifies me to think people think he is a suitable leader.

 

[fowler9]

Everyone responding so far seems to know who is being referred to.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Ha ha. I kind of agree in the sense that I shouldn't lower myself to the levels of Boris Johnson. He is a massive man baby and it terrifies me to think people think he is a suitable leader.

Interesting thought... IF, G-d forbid, BoJo did become PM could we aim him at Trump and therefore get the 2 stupidities to cancel each other out?