Forum Topic

Sajid Javid resigns, then Rishi Sunak follows suit.

Times up Boris, your legacy was Brexit, no mean feat.Step up Dominic Raab?

Denis I. Fox ● 1539d132 Comments

That must be curtains for Johnson

Claire Moran ● 1539d

Never have two gone at the same time. A record I understand. Are we in uncharted waters?

Nicholas Beard ● 1539d

I think this particular creek has been well charted by this PM

Alan Clark ● 1539d

The Champagne is going on ice in this house.

Vanessa Smith ● 1539d

A clear bid for the leadership at a guess.With the successful candidate doing a "Granita" and offering his co-resignee the job of his chosing.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1539d

Thank goodness we may be about to see the end of this horror show. Surely only Ben Wallace could be worse.

Claire Moran ● 1539d

Oh dear! What will dopey Dorries do now?

Vanessa Smith ● 1539d

Dopey D will claim unstinting support for her PM. That is what is in her notebook from last week and no need to change it now. He is the best man for the job. He has delivered on everything he said he would do. He is a man of his word. It says in her notebook, so it must be true.

Alan Clark ● 1539d

And in his resignation speech, The Bodge says 'I'm sorry for my  errors of judgement, Brexit being one of them.' That'll do for me.

Stephen Gould ● 1539d

What? As well as the wallpaper? He has no shame.

Peter Millman ● 1539d

If only!

Vanessa Smith ● 1539d

Wait until Priti stakes a claim, or The Honourable Member for the 19th century or Govey or Shapps. The field of the hapless and talentless is almost endless.

N V Brooks ● 1539d

Let's at least look on the bright side.  We may be rid of this ghastly man even if we're stuck with the nasty party.But who is running the country and looking after people in these trying times?

Sarah Vickers ● 1539d

I see the usual Boris arse lickers have not come to defend him yet. None of them are fit for office Larry the cat could do a better job than the lot of them.

Brian Green ● 1538d

One of the poor misguided souls sent out to defend the greased piglet - Will Quince - has resigned this morning, and who could blame him? Pity that the odious Therese Coffey doesn't follow suit.

Vanessa Smith ● 1538d

I'm not interested how can the P.M control what every human being doesIf he hadn't hired him he would have been wrong whatever he does is wrong to Labour supporters and the media.  Nonsense as usual.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

Bloody hell! So you're right and everyone else is wrong? How anyone could be so thick as to even try and defend such appalling behaviour is beyond me. Would you take the same view were this to be a Labour P.M.? The man is a serial liar, bereft of any remorse or humility and simply has no shame, and is now surrounding himself with people who are equally useless - simply because no-one else would have them. Far from being 'nonsense' we are entitled to expect behaviour of the highest calibre from those running the country.

Vanessa Smith ● 1538d

Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid and the others who have resigned are hardly Labour supporters though are they Janice?

Andrew Jones ● 1538d

"expect behaviour of the highest calibre" Perhaps that applies to calling someone on here thick whatever ones views and thoughts

Julian Pavey ● 1538d

Janice must have missed the eye-watering interview with Raab when Susanna Reid pointed out that back in 2019 an inquiry on a complaint against Pincher found in favour of the complainant. And Reid asked if, given Pincher was found guilty of assault, then how was in put into the whip role. Raab claimed a decision in favour of the complainant is not the same as Pincher being found guilty. How does that work? The Schrodinger's cat of guilt? It was painful to watch as Raab struggled to muster either of his brain cells to establish that guilty is not the same as guilty. No wonder ministers are fed up of Johnson shoving them in front of cameras so that they can look like idiots. No wonder some are resigning because they see interviews like Rabb's and reckon the whole country thinks this government is a joke.

Alan Clark ● 1538d

"expect behaviour of the highest calibre"'Perhaps that applies to calling someone on here thick whatever ones views and thoughts'Except that I'm not in government - and I have no patience with anyone defending this utter b/s. What would you call them?

Vanessa Smith ● 1538d

Wrong perhaps or i disagree.Not really sure that calling someone on here thick helps.But then your another person who has told people to ignore janice in the past. But like others,she is likely your only target on here so therefore an easy target and keep coming back for more. ?

Julian Pavey ● 1538d

I luvs me some Vanessa.Agreed I'm not sure how Janice is still able to avert her gaze. Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil, I suppose.I also wonder what her view would be if it were a woman having been groped. Outrageous or usual nonsense?Again I repeat, look no further than the US to see what happens when this type of behavior runs amok in western democracy. Blink and before you know it, Janice will be a fraction of the woman she is now with less freedom.

David Lesniak ● 1538d

Let us just remember that Bojo won his thumping majority because the Labour Party was stupid enough to offer Old Jeremiah Corbyn as its candidate for Prime Minister. How anyone could be so thick as to see him as a viable PM is beyond me. Our current House of Commons is sorely lacking in members with gravitas in any of the parties. Bojo versus Old Jeremiah was a pretty poor choice, but I worry that the alternatives next time round may be even less appealing. Where is there a latter-day Margaret Thatcher, or even a Tony Blair, who people actually want to vote for, rather than voting for the  least worst option ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1538d

The Housing Minister,what's his name, has just resigned.Unbelievably the new minister will be the twelfth in the last twelve years.What a shambles.

Adrian Irving ● 1538d

It’s quite entertaining in a way.  If BJ suddenly did decide that enough was enough and resigned I’d almost be disappointed.  Before cracking open the Prosecco of course.  (No champagne socialist me.)

Alastair Banton ● 1538d

Julian I was replying to Brian, Vanessa I'm not bothered about her views would you be.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

Andrew, they have their own agenda no doubt.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

David, whoever he groped it should be his problem.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

Julian, odd or strange she doesn't like Labour either.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

David, a kid in Morrisons pinch my butt he was no older than 10, when I told my partner he laughed, I wonder what the boy is up to now at a guess he would be about 15 dread to think.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

Alastair, my Rodier is on ice, waiting for the good news.  As the socialist historian Eric Hobsbawm said: "If you're going down in the Titantic, you may as well be going down in first class".More seriously:  whenever I have come across sex pests (and it seems that this is general (Rolf Harris, Harvey Weinstein, Jimmy Savill etc. etc.)) it never seems to be a "one-off" error of judgement in the moment.  It seems to be intrinstic to who the person is. And often it seems to be about the exercise of power, and dominance (perhaps more so than sex).And if the recent stories are true about Carrie Symonds giving Johnson oral sex on the sofa in his office (yuk - apologies for the visual image) at a time when (a) he was foreign secretary; (b) his wife was ill with cancer; and (c) he was her work superior: then it seems that Johnson is just as capable of exploiting his position of power for his own sexual gratification.  Perhaps this is why he dealt with Pincher so charitably, and made jokes about Pincher's behaviour.Which all goes to the abject hypocrisy of Johnson.  It is just (yet another) illustration of why he is so totally unfit for public office (or any office - I am sure that any of us would have been out on our ear before we could blink if we behaved the way he does in our work enviroment).But the problem is wider than than: his enablers in the Conservative Party (of whom there still seem to be many) are thereby equally unfit for public office.By the bye, despite my own political leanings, I have many good Tory friends (including a couple in Parliament) - decent people with whom I just happen to disagree on some important issues of economic and social policy.  To give them their due, they absolutely despise the man, and cannot wait to see the back of him.

T P Howell ● 1538d

I'm sorry, Janice, but are trying to equate the behavior of a 10-year old to grown man with a history of predatory behvior that was then overlooked by your leader??? And then supported by a band of obsequious enablers? I truly don't understand the point you are trying to make.

David Lesniak ● 1538d

'David, whoever he groped it should be his problem.'No it should not! That is really appalling - that 'groping' is a sexual assault, and coming from a government minister - and a Whip at that makes it even more disgraceful. The fact that some plank then asked the victim if he was gay - just adds insult to injury - that has absolutely no bearing on events whatsoever. I can think of quite a few people who would have taken aim at Mr. Pincher's nether regions and demanded his head on a plate. The only positive of this episode - if there is one - is - it is helping the greased piglet off to the political abattoir.

Vanessa Smith ● 1538d

6pm is my guess

Andrew Jones ● 1538d

I'm not sure that, in this supposedly enlightened age, groping another man should disqualify anyone from being a Minister of the Crown. However, since Pincher's position gave him authority over Conservative MPs, and at the same time made him responsible for their pastoral care, I can see how such behaviour might be a problem. For me, it's all a bit of a storm in a tea-cup, and Johnson has only turned it into a major issue by lying about his knowledge of Pincher's activities. The reason Johnson has to go is that mendacity is his constant response to criticism. The man isn't to be trusted, and is incapable of changing his behaviour, If he were to stay as PM it would inevitably lead to yet more scandal and more lies.

Robert Fish ● 1538d

Enlightenment does not give anyone the right to grope. Absolutely, unequivocally the precise opposite. Anyone who gropes is unfit to govern. In a democracy.

David Lesniak ● 1538d

Pincher obviously knew Johnson's foibles/sexual behaviour and Johnson knew his,  So it was in both their interests that he be given a good job - and Johnson originally wanted him to be Chief Whip.  It all looks like Mafia blackmail stuff

Vivienne Cox ● 1538d

I'd have loved to have witnessed the ministerial planning meeting about how to handle the Pincher debacle. You can see the chief whip explaining the issue and the background. And then asking what approach might we best take? And Johnson saying "right, I'll deny and lie, that will work, no?". Just to be there to see the look on everyone's face. As Nadine pipes up "yes PM, splendid plan!"

Alan Clark ● 1538d

I feel he's just say "I don't care - just sort it out' and leave the other poor sods to do the work

Vivienne Cox ● 1538d

I have been saying for many months that all it needed was for Boris to be given enough rope - and he'd do the job himself. As is always the way - people get away with being prats once - but when they go on sticking two fingers up to all and sundry  eventually their arrogance leads them to think that they can do anything they like and no-one will say or do anything. But, there is always a red line and others finally locate their wedding tackle, better late than never, whilst they still have a smidgen of integrity remaining, and that has finally happened.

Vanessa Smith ● 1538d

7.45pm and he is still there.Apparently even Patel has told him to go! (As well as the two ministers he has only just appointed)."38 members of government have quit since 6pm last night in what is being seen as a total collapse of the government."Anyone willing to give odds that Johnson will ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament and call an election rather than resign?  If he does, I suspect that he will have to pay for his own taxi down the Mall.

T P Howell ● 1538d

"....others finally locate their wedding tackle...."I thought that was Chris Pincher's speciality ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1538d

But on which day ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1538d

Just heard a rumour that Johnson is sitting in his office getting drunk.How low has this country fallen.His enablers must pay the price for this.

T P Howell ● 1538d

Bo love,i think its time to leave. But what about the wallpaper? oh,the wallpaper ? I did not really like it anyway and besides ive found a new sofa that does not go with it.Oh and this great house in Notting hill.What,what what,erm erm erm,ohCould it be Carrie that pursuades him. You never know

Julian Pavey ● 1538d

Minute by minute commentary by The Spectator (pro Tory):https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/live-are-cabinet-rebels-waiting-to-turn-on-boris-Absolutely gripping.Constitutional crises are unbecomming - but I think this is even more momumental that Suez.As I tell my children - history becomes easier the older you get, because you can remember some of it.  This will be one for the history books.

T P Howell ● 1538d

It’s a good job we have a ‘dirty democracy’, rather than the alternatives. I can’t see anything like this happening in Russia, China, or the EU.

Russell Pearson ● 1538d

It seems nobody is willing to acknowledge the fact that the only reason Boris Johnson is/was ever popular with the public (and thus with the voters in Conservatyive thinking) was because like Trump he was a television personilty. It was *before* he gained any sort of high offive that Boris appeared on TV doing his bumbling clown act - and the public just lapped it up.  Politicians using only appear on TV, game shows, chat shows *after they've lefy office and its only then we see that their human side (or at least an impressive imitation)What would happen once Boris took office (a shambles)* wasn't really that hard to see. And any of these former colleagues who've suddenly developed fits of conscience - presumably presumably can't have known what Boris was *really* like - sudden losses of memory when getting into "scrapes" etc.As if !At least Boris is a good "honest liar* unlike this sanctimoious shower of hypocrites whose only concern is saving their seats at the next GE.And it could have been worse. Apparently Liz Truss is not only a trained accountant but a also right-wing nut-job with impressive credentials; and so on the face of it would hav been a shoe-in as Chancellor, had Boris been so minded.michael adams   

Michael Adams ● 1538d

David, I'm not making any point at all, just saying.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

Well it looks like he's still around, but have fun.

Janice Evans ● 1538d

" Pincher obviously knew Johnson's foibles/sexual behaviour"As did everbody else. Johnson's unsuccessful attempt to persuade Petronella Wyatt to have an abortion, and subsequently lying about it was public knowledge. And was the reason he was sacked from the "Spectator".His weakness for the opposite sex regardless of where that might lead wouldn't come as news to anyone.  And as Johnson never set himself up as a paragon of virtue and morality he's almost impossible to blackmail.Except maybe where money was concerned, but as withJefffrey Epstein nobody is really that interested The Pincher episode is a classic example of Johnson's inattention to detail. He might well have been told but was probably much more concerned with something else at the time - the wallpapaer samples Carrie had sent over, or what wine to have with dinner that night - or tomorrow's photo opportunies. Busy busy busy.miohael adams 

Michael Adams ● 1538d

Not for long JaniceWhatever has come and gone or lingering around one thing is for sure. when you have virtually no support left behind you, one has to go.

Julian Pavey ● 1538d

It is not "fun".Government is not suppose to be the circus.Johnson is doing immeasurable harm to the UK, both internally and to our reputation internationally. Those who support him must share responsibility for this damage.

T P Howell ● 1538d

I wonder if you’ll be writing the same this time tomorrow … the longer this goes on, the worse the effect on the Conservative party is going to be. IMHO.

Andrew Jones ● 1538d

Any guesses what the headline of his first autobiography part 1 will b3, or his first paid for after dinner speech, both of which he will get squillions for?  "Just hang on in there?" Not feeling very witty tonight but I am sure others can up with some good book/speech titles.

Claire Moran ● 1538d

And now he's sacked Gove.Which he's probably been itching to do ever since Gove stabbed *him* in the back. Nevertheless isn't it maybe time for the men in white coats to be called to No 10 ?"Queen has Boris Sectioned" michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1538d

Frightening that we have power crazed delusional nutters in Russia, the UK and had one (Trump) in the US. All with access to nuclear weapons. Plus other egotistical horrors in in Asia and Latin America.

Claire Moran ● 1538d

"Those who support him must share responsibility for this damage. "I said as much, when he was elected leader of the Conservative Party. He was chosen for his ability to win elections, not on his credentials as a potential leader. The likely outcome was all too obvious even then. But that doesn't alter the fact that televeision personalities are very popular with the voters.And anyone who thinks that Donald Trump has "gone away" in the US, is sadly mistaken. With the appeal of TV personalities and even more the rise of social media giving voice to anyone with an opinion however ill informed, it was almost inevtable that politics would become even more dumbed down.And Boris and Trump are the result. Quite how a personality bypass such as Keir Starmer, the Anti-Corbyn, is supposedto counteract that, is anybody's guess.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1538d

For sheer hypocrisy it's difficult to beat Johnson's claim that his priority is getting on with the job. His government is in a state of stasis, and has been for a considerable time, with Minister's energies directed towards covering up the mess that Johnson creates. Whilst both social services and the NHS are in crisis, the justice system is broken, inflation is rampant, the current account deficit is at an unprecedented high, sterling is under pressure on the exchanges and there are threats of widespread industrial strife, there is a policy void at the heart of government. All Johnson has to offer is red meat for the nutters: the shameful Rwanda policy, and the deliberate stirring up of trouble in Northern Ireland, which, again with breathtaking hypocrisy, he describes as protecting the Good Friday Agreement. Absolutely nothing to address the real problems of the UK.

Robert Fish ● 1538d

Absolutely.  He has come up with no ideas himself.  He gave Gove the Levelling up agenda, which he must have known was impossible, but he hates Gove (why did Gove not resign?).  And he landed Rees Mogg with trying to find benefits of Brexit - and heavens, RM had to go to the Sun readers - did he even know that paper existed? to get any answers.  Johnson is the epitome of doing nothing and blaming others when they don't do it either.

Vivienne Cox ● 1538d

By mainstream media. BBC and LBC - big players.

Michael Brown ● 1538d

" For sheer hypocrisy it's difficult to beat Johnson's claim that his priority is getting on with the job."I'm sorry but the fact that Johnson was/is a lying hypocrite is already well known. Quite possibly even Johnson himself would admit as much. My point is, Johnson can hardly be blamed for simply running true to form.The hypocrites are his colleagues who when it suited them tried to pretend Johnson was something which he wasn't. A capable, hard working leader willing to accept responsibility when things went wrong  When he was neverany of those things. Just so long as he could keep winning elections. But then when he couldn't - "their eyes are allopened and then they could see". Pass the sick bag Alice !The rot set in, when Teresa May made him Foreign Secretary, he could hardly believe his luck; which was when the UK was first reduced to a laughing stock. But that didn't stop the Tories from voting for him as their leader.All this current hand wringing comes a bit too late in the day I'm afraid.  michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1538d

Look on the bright side, maybe we'll finally have a PM who has the guts to expose the COVID 'scam' once Boris is gone.

Andrew Jones ● 1538d

Now Brandon  Lewis goes.

Nicholas Beard ● 1537d

T.P.H, you love it and enjoying every minute,

Janice Evans ● 1537d

" Anyone willing to give odds that Johnson will ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament and call an election rather than resign?  If he does, I suspect that he will have to pay for his own taxi down the Mall."There is zero probability of that happening IMO/ but Johnson  knows it is a useful threat.If the Conservative bleeding heart consciences are suddenly troubling them so much, then they could simply resign the Conservative whip or simply abstain; and bring down the Govt at the next vote..Except they won't. Because many are scared of losing their seats. Hence the potency of Boris's "threat"Boris Johnson, the supreme (if tousle haired ) narcisssist,finds himself as the centre of attention. In everybodys thoughts.And in total control at last (if only temporarily) and just so long as Carrie agrees. A narcissist's dream.While all the non-narcissists stand around open mouthed, totally unable to understand why Boris doesn't bring his"misery" to an end.As with his hero Churchill, in another context, this is what Boris's life has always been leading up to - its finally Boris against the world. michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1537d

Yesterday ... all my troubles seemed so far away

Andrew Jones ● 1537d

Now Johnson goes.

Colin Jordan ● 1537d

And it was all of his own making - who was it who said all political lives end in failure? The greased piglet did it all on his own with arrogance, mendacity, overweening ego and sloppiness, surrounded by other lacklustre and in some cases brain dead acolytes who are not worthy of our confidence. Even now he will not acknowledge that this all could have been so different - what goes around, comes around. Now to get rid of the whole sorry, pathetic bunch.

Vanessa Smith ● 1537d

In his resignation speech, Johnson revealed his own lack of herd immunity.

David Roberts ● 1537d

The list of equally odious Tories to replace Bozo is long.

Basil Finnis ● 1537d

Will be an interesting time in politics if Starmer and Raynor keep their promise to resign if fined for their curry and beer night and both main parties have nobody at the helm

Paul Fisher ● 1537d

They tip B.W

Janice Evans ● 1537d

Janice, I'm not a Labour supporter I just can't understand how people can keep on defending the undefendable.

Brian Green ● 1537d

There is an old truism that bald men don't get elected to be PM - bad news for Ben Wallace, Sajid Javid and Nadhim Zahawi.

Richard Greenhough ● 1537d

Paul, the leader of the Labour party, known to some as Sir Beer Korma is a smart cookie.He piously said he and his foul mouthed deputy Angela Raynor (AR) would gallantly step down if given Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for their "work related" beer and curry misdemeanours in a Labour MP's office.He knew the enquiry would be conducted under the surveillance of Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Raynor, the very person he and AR were photographed with and campaigned vigorously for way back in April 2021.He also knew that the Durham Police force doesn't do FPNs (Fixed Penalty Notices).And as a footnote he said AR wasn't there but a Durham student questioned his version of events by saying otherwise.Memory loss of course.

Denis I. Fox ● 1537d

" There is an old truism that bald men don't get elected to be PM - bad news for Ben Wallace, Sajid Javid and Nadhim Zahawi."Just as well nobody told Clement Attlee that in 1945 amd 1950, and Winston Churchill in 1951, then. Although in the latter case, doubtless Anthony Eden dropped plenty of hints.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1537d

Starmer is a spiteful deceitful cowardly twerp. We're poorly served by our current shower of politicians.

Basil Finnis ● 1537d

Vanessa the full quote comes from Enoch Powell's biography of fellow Mid-Lander Austen Chamberlain, the elder half-brother of the more famous Neville. The full quote is;"All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs."Austen was twice Chancellor of the Exchequer, briefly leader of the Conservative Party (in the Lloyd George Coalitionn). Later as Foreign Secretary he negotiated the 1925 Treaty of Locarno aimed at preventing war between France and Germany for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. Long before the advent of the Erasmus Programme, on leaving Cambridge University he studied at both the Paris Institute of Political Studies and the Univertsity of Berlin.He was one of the few MPs supporting Winston Churchill's calls for rearmament against the German threat in the 1930s.   

Sam Hearn ● 1537d

Thank-you Sam, it was a rhetorical question. However, on this occasion Id' say it was more the 'human affairs' than anything else that has seen the fall of the blond bombsite. Even now - now no sense of humility or of introspection - it's all the fault of someone or everything (insert the media, the pandemic, the Ukraine war etc, etc.) else, not brought about by a serious character fault and surrounding himself with people who probably couldn't hold down a half decent ordinary job, and who went merrily along with him to save their own rotten skins.

Vanessa Smith ● 1537d

The man can't even resign in a straight line.

T P Howell ● 1537d

It seems pretty pathetic that the Conservative party really don't know what to do to get him out of No 10. I feel he is hoping their election for the next leader turns into chaos and he insists on staying.

Vivienne Cox ● 1537d

Boris should be put somewhere secure for his and our benefit, and all power removed.  Including the decision as to when he leaves No 10. This is no longer a matter for jokes about Boris, calling him a buffoon etc that was the mistake. The seriousness of his “issues” should be recognised and dealt with immediately. Why do people like him and Jimmy Saville types manage to stay in positions of power when their true character is known by so many.

Maggie Dodge ● 1536d

Even yesterday many people who were interviewed on TV about events were backing him, saying how sorry they were for him and how he had all those awful things to deal with as P.M. Well, yes that's what you take on with the job, you have to deal with events as they happen. Sorry, I don't have an ounce of sympathy for him or any of those dopey individuals or parliamentary followers. His reputation was well known, as a serial liar and womaniser, just read some of his school reports, or listen to Sir Max Hastings' opinion of him. Similarly Trump and all the other petty little populist leaders who have sprung up, until and unless people have the sense and guts to stand up to them - they just do as they please, it's the damage they can do to so many others that is the tragedy.

Vanessa Smith ● 1536d

Anyone but Wallace

Claire Moran ● 1536d

Maggie, Corbyn was the reason.

Janice Evans ● 1536d

Janice, you truly are a gem.

Anne England ● 1536d

Why is that Claire?

Alastair Banton ● 1536d

But why ?

Julian Pavey ● 1536d

Anne, you may think that Janice is a lettuce, but she makes the valid point that many Labour voters could not stomach the idea of Corbyn running the country and therefore voted for the least-worst option of Bojo. Unfortunately he does not seem to recognise that that was a major reason why he achieved his thumping majority. Let us hope that whoever becomes the new Conservative leader will demonstrate good reasons to vote in favour of them, rather than simply attracting a vote because of who they aren't.

Richard Greenhough ● 1536d

Anne is in the bubble.

Janice Evans ● 1536d

Catch up, Richard. Maggie's question was "Why do people like him and Jimmy Saville types manage to stay in positions of power when their true character is known by so many." Janice's reply was irrelevant. We all know why Johnson was elected - fear of Corbyn was driving the donkey and Brexit was the carrot held in front of it. But that doesn't explain why, long after it became clear Johnson's an utter shit, so many Conservative MPs continued to support him. Anne was merely pointing out yet another Janice non-sequitur.

Robert Fish ● 1536d

If this is all about famously amoral men with tragic blond hair then the fate of Boris Becker might be a salutary lesson.

Alastair Banton ● 1536d

quote" many Labour voters could not stomach the idea of Corbyn running the country"unquoteNow let's see. 2017 General Election8 June 2017...............Theresa May....Jeremy Corbyn...............Conservative...Labour Popular vote...13,636,684.....12,877,918  Which clearly put the heebie jeebies up sufficient people that the decision was made to smear Corbyn as an anti-semite.So was and is Jeremy Corbyn anti-semitic ?Is Jeremy Corbyn really anti-Semitic?by Geoffrey Alderman (The Spectator)quoteThe fact of the matter is that Corbyn has an impressive record of supporting Jewish communal initiatives. For instance he was recently supportive of Jewish efforts to facilitate the speedy issue of death certificates by the north London coroner. In 2015 he took part in a ceremony in his Islington constituency to commemorate the founding of the North London Synagogue. In 2010 he put his name to an Early Day Motion (tabled by Diane Abbott) calling on the UK government to facilitate the settlement of Yemeni Jews in Britain. Indeed I could fill this entire article with a list of philo-Semitic EDMs that Corbyn has signed since he was first elected as Labour MP for Islington North in 1983I will agree that from time to time, as backbench MP and party leader, Corbyn has acted unwisely. But the grounds for labelling him an anti-Semite simply do not exist.Geoffrey Alderman is Professor of Politics, University of Buckingham.https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/is-jeremy-corbyn-really-anti-semitic-unquoteIt was and is a simple smear to prevent an "unaccepltably" leftist leader and his potential leftist chancellor from winning a UK General Election, orchestrated in part by Margaret Hodge For those unfamiliar with the history between these two( which is most people it seems) "Red" Margaret Hodge was leader of Islingtoin Council at the same time as Corbyn was and remains the local MP. At the time she agressively pursued what were termed "looney left" policies, in the "Evening Standard" among other places for whom she bacame something of a bete noir. A scandal erupted in an Islingron Care home for which Hodge was ultimately responsible but she chose to igbore it. Imagining it to be another smear by the "Standard". When Corbyn was informed he simply passed the complainants on to Hodge who again ignored it all, as a put up job. Basically Hodge ended up blaoming Corbyn for having landed hersef in it.Then she found Tony Blair who just happened to live in Islington - ditched all the looney left nonsense, and Corbyn, and becamea born again New Labour Cheerleader.  michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1536d

It now seems the Johnson photo  opportunity machine is treating us to cuddly, loved up pictures of him and his adoring family.YCK YCK YCK!Still, I guess he has little choice as there not many other folk that would want to be in a photo with him.

Adrian Irving ● 1536d

Robert, comparing him with Jimmy Saville needed to be side tracked.

Janice Evans ● 1536d

Think I agree with Claire.

Janice Evans ● 1536d

Well said Michael. Here's a list of the terrible things that awful antisemite did. What an horrible man. Corbyn organised the Apr. 1977 defence of Jewish populated Wood Green from a Neo-Nazi march7 Nov. 1990: Corbyn signs motion condemning the rise of antisemitism11 Apr. 2000: Jeremy Corbyn signs motion condemning David Irving for being a Holocaust DenierEDM1124, 6 Nov. 2000: Jeremy Corbyn praised the ‘British Schindler’, Bill Barazetti, for his WW2 kindertransportEDM742, 28 Jan. 2002: Jeremy Corbyn signs motion praising football clubs for commemorating Holocaust DayEDM1233 30 Apr. 2002: Corbyn was a primary sponsor on a motion condemning antisemitism11 May 2002: Jeremy led a clean up of Finsbury Park Synagogue after an anti-Semitic attackEDM1691, 23 July 2002: Corbyn condemned attacks on a synagogue in SwanseaEDM123 26 Nov. 2003: Corbyn officially condemns attacks on 2 Istanbul synagoguesEDM298, 16 Dec. 2003: Jeremy Corbyn signs motion commemorating International Holocaust Day2004: Jeremy condemned news that anti-Semitic hate crimes had risen for yet another yearEDM461, 21 Jan. 2004: Jeremy Corbyn condemned the French government’s moves to ban the Jewish Kippa in French SchoolsEDM717, 26 Feb. 2004: Jeremy signed a motion praising Simon Wiesenthal for bringing Nazi perpetrators of the Holocaust to justiceEDM1613, 8 Sept. 2004: Corbyn co-sponsored a bill expressing fears for the future of the United Synagogue Pension SchemeEDM1699, 11 Oct. 2004: Jeremy Corbyn condemned arbitrary attacks on civilians in Israel and PalestineEDM482, 12 Jan. 2005: Jeremy Corbyn signs a motion commemorating International Holocaust DayEDM343, 16 June 2005: Jeremy condemned the desecration of a Jewish cemetery in east LondonEDM1343, 11 Jan. 2006: Jeremy Corbyn signs a motion commemorating International Holocaust DayEDM1774, 8 Mar. 2006: Jeremy Corbyn led condemnations of an Iranian Magazine soliciting cartoons about the HolocaustEDM1267, 16 Apr. 2006: Jeremy Corbyn condemned Bryan Ferry for anti-Semitic remarksEDM2414, 26 June 2006: Jeremy Corbyn praised British war veterans for their efforts to combat the HolocaustEDM2705, 10 Oct. 2006: Jeremy signed a motion marking the 70th anniversary of Cable StreetEDM271, 14 Nov. 2007: Jeremy co-sponsored a motion lamenting the poverty and social exclusion East London Jews sufferedEDM153, 12 May 2008: Corbyn praised the efforts of the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto during the uprising of 1944EDM2350, 27 Oct 2008: Jeremy Corbyn signs a motion marking the 70th anniversary of the horrors of the holocaustEDM173, 8 Dec. 2008: Jeremy condemned the Press Complaints Commission for refusing to sanction The Times for antisemitismEDM461, 14 Jan. 2009: Jeremy Corbyn condemned a wave of recent anti-Semitic incidents targetedEDM605, 27 Jan. 2009: Corbyn signed John Mann’s motion condemning antisemitism on university campusesEDM917 26 Feb. 2009: Jeremy signs a motion condemning antisemitism on the internetEDM1175 24 Mar. 2009: Corbyn signs a motion praising the heroism of British Jews during HolocaustEDM337, 2 Dec. 2009: Jeremy Condemned Iran’s treatment of Jewish minorities in IranEDM850 9 Feb. 2010: Jeremy joins in calls for Facebook to do more to fight antisemitismEDM891: 22 Feb 2010: Corbyn co-sponsors a motion calling for Yemen’s Jews to be given refugee status to the UKEDM908 27 Oct. 2010: Corbyn praises work of late Israeli PM in his pursuit of a 2 state solutionEDM1360, 27 Jan. 2011: Corbyn co-sponsored a motion praising the ‘never again for anyone initiative’EDM1527, 3 Mar. 2011: Corbyn backed Ian Paisley’s motion condemning the anti-Semitic remarks of Dior’s lead fashion designerEDM2870, 14 Mar. 2012: Jeremy Corbyn condemned the sale of Nazi memorabilia at an auction in BristolEDM2866, 14 Mar 2012: Jeremy Corbyn co-sponsored a bill condemning the rise of antisemitism in LithuaniaEDM2899, 20 Mar. 2012, Jeremy Corbyn condemned a terrorist attack on a Jewish school in ToulouseEDM168, 12 June 2012, Jeremy co-sponsored a motion condemning anti-Semitic attacks during EURO 2012 in PolandEDM 195 13 June 2012: Jeremy attacks BBC for cutting Jewish programmes from Its scheduleEDM 1133 1 Mar 2013: Corbyn joins a chorus of calls condemning antisemitism In sport1 Oct. 2013: Corbyn was one of the few MPs who defended Ralph Miliband from Daily Mail antisemitismEDM 932 9 Jan 2014: Jeremy praises Holocaust Memorial’s work on antisemitism educationEDM 165 22 June 2015: Jeremy condemns a Neo-Nazi rally planned for a Jewish area of LondonSat 4 July 2015: Jeremy co-planned a counter-fascist demo in defence of Jewish residents at Golders Green. The march was re-routed18 Nov. 2015, Corbyn used one of his first PMQs to challenge Cameron to do more on antisemiUsm9 Oct 2016: Corbyn, leads commemoration of the Battle of Cable Street3 Dec. 2016: Corbyn visits Terezin Concentration Camp to commemorate Holocaust victimsIn 2017-19 Jeremy introduced 20 new measures to combat antisemitism in the Labour Party

Basil Finnis ● 1536d

Quelle surprise ! A pair of greased piglets make their escape.

Richard Greenhough ● 1536d

Shut up FFS - Why is it a surprise? Just because the Daily Mail wound it all up and it didn't come off. Keir - clear!

Vanessa Smith ● 1536d

"Keir - clear!"Like itIve got Keir - knowhere in my calenderAny good

Julian Pavey ● 1536d

Second thoughtsIt dont quite workIm working on one guys and girls,see you later,got some trading to do on the irish footballPS.. If they have a book for Nick Kyrgios to get a point penalty or a warning in the final take it but only if value Just thought id throw that one in for good measure

Julian Pavey ● 1536d

You have some neck to describe Starmer and Rayner in the same terms as the unprincipled charlatan who has been getting away with disgraceful behaviour for years. You're no better than the Daily Mail - trying to excuse Johnson by implying that other politicians are just the same. You make yourself look silly. There are few people, even among die-hard Tory supporters who refuse to recognise that Johnson is one of the most corrupt, dishonest, and unprincipled politicians in our lifetime. Boring Starmer doesn't come close.

Robert Fish ● 1536d

I hope that awful Gilligan and his pedestrian and public transport hating cronies are gone for good.

Claire Moran ● 1535d

He is a gonner i can assure you of that because most other people in the party are pretty much against LTNs and segregated cycle lanes in general except boris who hired him again. And im convinced money like the past will not be available due to the economy and where tax payers money needs to go

Julian Pavey ● 1535d

Oh come on Richard ... there's no comparison.You weren't a fan of Boris as far as I can tell and came to the opinion that he should go.Keir put his neck on the line and said he would resign if he was issued with a FPN.There was a concerted campaign by the likes of the Daily Mail to get people to think of Beergate in similar terms to Partygate, but even if Keir had been found to have contravened the rules, there just was no comparison.

Andrew Jones ● 1535d

The beergate thing was entirely contrived by the Mail in a pathetic attempt to claim "Starmer was as bad as Johnson". There was no breaking of rules, there was no repeat events, there were no pathetic lies told. Anyone who swallowed the Mail's empty propaganda on beergate needs to have a word with themselves and their inability to identify the most obvious gaslighting. Or, if they knew all along it was a sham, and they still promoted beergate as a thing, then can they put their hand up and admit "I'm a shallow tory fan whose idea of grown up political discussion is to spaff around empty claims about the other parties"

Alan Clark ● 1535d

I hope you're right, Julian. Shame they were able to waste so much of our money and fo so much damage while in office.

Claire Moran ● 1535d

The parliamentay Tory party turning on their leader so horribly after his stonking ability to grap the electorate and romp home with an 80 seat majority reminds me of the way Labour's PLP rubbished the Labour leader Mr Corbyn who managed a massive historic party membership count the largest of any political party in Europe only for Labor's PLP in cahoots with the media to hound Mr Corbyn out of office.

Bobbie Carnegie ● 1534d

I’m not big on politics, but wasn’t the 80 seat majority gained before all his recent shenanigans?

Maggie Dodge ● 1534d

Well, I think Johnson's past history of lying, exaggerating, womanising and so on was very well known from the time he was at Eton. So none of his acolytes had any excuses, similarly the public - as none of this was much of a secret, but people voted for him anyway, so they've only themselves to blame. The times I've heard - 'I like Boris' makes me despair, I like a lot of things, but I'm also sensible enough to know they won't be good for me!

Vanessa Smith ● 1533d

I think it’s the cult of celebrity, Vanessa.  It’s oozed into all sorts of areas it doesn’t belong.  Many people attach too much importance to ‘charisma’ which has an obvious appeal but should never be confused with political aptitude or moral standards.

Alastair Banton ● 1533d

Vanessa, I agree with you about Johnson's history. More than enough was known about him to make it clear that he was completely unsuitable for the role of Conservative Leader and Prime Minister. I don't agree that his womanising per se made him unsuitable, so much as the lies and the corruption that flowed from it - jobs for the girls, use of public money to reward his paramours, etc.Alastair, I agree about the cult of celebrity. We always used to demand seriousness of our political leaders. I'd like to think that, after this aberration, we may return to more traditinal values. But I'm not encouraged by the platforms of the succession candidates. Many of them are too ready to stress all the superficial, headline-grabbing stuff, to perpetuate Johnson's populist cultural wars. How can potential PMs be most concerned with statues, "woke" values and the jurisdiction of the ECHR, when the country cries out for answers to the problems of poverty, inflation, the NHS, and Social Services. How can serious politicians promise tax cuts when they know it will take a lot of money to fix these things?

Robert Fish ● 1533d

They always think tax cuts are appealing which they probably are butdon't see how it's possible.

Janice Evans ● 1533d

I don't get the celebrity bit, people voted for someone who promised Brexit.

Janice Evans ● 1533d

I am to surprised to note that you may have a point. People were terribly fed up with the Brexit saga and many certainly were taken with the promise from Johnson to finally sort Brexit. Lucky that so many were so fed up with the unending Brexit saga as they were able to accept the evident lies and obvious contradictions that Johnson was making with his 'get it done' promise. It is almost funny that over two years since that election and Brexit is very clearly not 'done'. And there is a border down the Irish Sea. It is also true that the personality thing (not so much celebrity in itself but the presentation of Johnson's personality) was a factor. And again so many voters bought into the Boris thing, seemingly uncaring that it was a crude front for a deeply nasty individual. But what do they say about fooling most of the people?

Alan Clark ● 1532d

A clean sweep is required!Sir Geoffrey Cox is still on my mind. He is very popular in his Devon Constituency, received a rousing ovation at a recent Conservative Party Conference..and has the style to regain confidence in Downing Street... hopefully.

Jim Lawes ● 1532d

Agree Jim.

Janice Evans ● 1532d

Alan I said many times it was not about Boris, it was about Brexit andall those Labour supporters up Norrth voted Conservative to get Brexitbecause they felt neglected.

Janice Evans ● 1532d

Sorry Jim and Janice but this money guzzling lawyer thankfully isn't up for candidature.Last year when conservative MPs were encouraged to stay home, ensure they voted and concentrate on their constituents, he was found voting by proxy from the British Virgin Islands, lining his pockets enquiring into alleged corruption.His pomposity and avarice is the last thing the public want from a conservative PM in these times.

Denis I. Fox ● 1532d

It is truly astonishing how those northern voters, after a decade of the Tory austerity policy, decided that first they would vote against Cameron and the establishment in the 2016 referendum. Then in 2019 they decided that the new face of the Tory party, but exactly the same part of the wealthy establishment, was just what they needed. Go figure.

Alan Clark ● 1532d

still think he is the one. We know he's not in the running but we can hope.

Janice Evans ● 1532d

Alan Cameron was not getting what he wanted from EU in the past so cansee why they would vote against.

Janice Evans ● 1532d

'We know he's not in the running but we can hope.'For what?

Vanessa Smith ● 1532d

You are almost right. He is not the one. That has been roundly confirmed. But he is a one. As in 'he's a right one, isn't he?'. And not meant in a good way.

Alan Clark ● 1532d

well he would have been my favourite and he never really did anything wrong, did he, don't they all do other jobs.

Janice Evans ● 1532d

Just so we are clear, you are talking about Johnson? I'm struggling to reconcile your last post with the record of Johnson - at all stages of his life.

Alan Clark ● 1532d

Exactly right, Denis

Claire Moran ● 1532d

Talking about G. Cox. Alan, but it seems he is not liked by some.

Janice Evans ● 1531d

Janice, Alan is a one. As in 'he's a right one, isn't he?'. And not meant in a good way.

Richard Greenhough ● 1531d

Has anyone told Rishi Sunak that the furlough scheme he's personally praised for operating as Tory Chancellor during Covid lockdowns wasn't originally his baby. It was a Tory crib, among several, taken directly from the Corbyn camp ~ more specifically was the previous Shadow Chancellor John MacDonell's fiscal suggestion.

Bobbie Carnegie ● 1527d