United Kingdom
Related: About this forumOMG! - we are going to be a laughing stock abroad!
She's just made Boris Foreign Secretary!
No, I didn't make that up; I don't have enough imagination to invent that!
Warpy
(111,243 posts)It's nice to know we're not the only idiots in the world.
(Boris? Good grief, he even looks a bit like Trump)
pennylane100
(3,425 posts)I believe she is known as a Thatcher type politician. This does not look very good for the UK. To make matters worse, Labour is in the middle of some kind of internal fight which I hope they settle before an election is called for.
LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)terrible people for the public services.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,301 posts)Liam Fox had to resign because he let his friend Adam Werrity pose as an official adviser to him to make money.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Werritty
Johnson's a buffoon; Fox is literally an official danger to national security.
Denzil_DC
(7,230 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,301 posts)Guppy, who declares he believes himself to be a "potential psychopath", gives "his word of honour" that Johnson's role in the assault will remain undetected.
When Johnson expresses concern about how severe the beating will be, Guppy tells his friend: "I guarantee you he will not be seriously hurt. He will not have a broken limb or broken arm, he will not be put into intensive care or anything like that. He will probably get a couple of black eyes and a ... a cracked rib or something." The revelation prompts Johnson to ask, "Cracked rib?" and Guppy to reply: "Nothing which you didn't suffer at rugby, OK? But he'll get scared."
On the tape, Johnson appears to be afraid his role in supplying the personal details will be found out and seeks reassurance from his friend that it will not. At the end of the conversation, Johnson is heard saying: "OK, Darrie, I said I'll do it and I'll do it. Don't worry."
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/mar/29/boris-johnson-channel-4
whathehell
(29,067 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,230 posts)Boris Johnson has apologised for referring to black people as "piccaninnies" and talking about "watermelon smiles".
During a debate for the London mayoral contest on Monday, the Conservative candidate said he was "sad" that people had been offended but insisted the words had been taken out of context.
In a column published in the Daily Telegraph six years ago, Johnson mocked Tony Blair's globetrotting: "What a relief it must be for Blair to get out of England. It is said that the Queen has come to love the Commonwealth, partly because it supplies her with regular cheering crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies," he wrote. It also mentioned "watermelon smiles".
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/jan/23/london.race
whathehell
(29,067 posts)Almost makes Trump look PC...Unreal.
Spazito
(50,280 posts)Even the news reporter had a "I can't believe this just happened" tone in their voice, lol.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)we fought the Civil War against them, and won.
Not saying you will need to go that far (though Nigel seems eager to play the part of General Lee), but when they lose, and when they come demanding to be let into the great community, do NOT make the mistake me did and offer "malice toward none, charity towards all" because if you do, they will simply do what our regressive element did, bide their time and sneak their way back into power.
LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)Nadine Dorries as Health Secretary? Philip Davies as Education Secretary? Priti Patel or Bill Cash as anything at all? Or Daniel Hannan, when he loses his job as Euro-MP?
muriel_volestrangler
(101,301 posts)German TV news presenters can't help laughing as they announce #BorisJohnson as Britain's new Foreign Minister.
9:19 PM - 13 Jul 2016
Laura Schneider @alauraschneider
Boris Johnson is "hated" in Brussels, German @ZDF's Brussels correspondent says.
9:14 PM - 13 Jul 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2016/jul/13/pmqs-cameron-may-reshuffle-labour-leadership-bid-as-mcdonnell-defends-claim-that-anti-corbyn-plotters-fucking-useless-politics-live?page=with:block-5786b01be4b08239dbab7248#block-5786b01be4b08239dbab7248
No surprise about the feeling in Brussels:
I know this because I was appointed Brussels correspondent of The Times in 1999, a few years after Johnsons stint there for The Telegraph, and I had to live with the consequences.
Johnson, sacked by The Times in 1988 for fabricating a quote, made his mark in Brussels not through fair and balanced reporting, but through extreme euro-scepticism. He seized every chance to mock or denigrate the EU, filing stories that were undoubtedly colourful but also grotesquely exaggerated or completely untrue.
The Telegraph loved it. So did the Tory Right. Johnson later confessed: 'Everything I wrote from Brussels, I found was sort of chucking these rocks over the garden wall and I listened to this amazing crash from the greenhouse next door over in England as everything I wrote from Brussels was having this amazing, explosive effect on the Tory party, and it really gave me this I suppose rather weird sense of power.'
Johnsons reports also had an amazing, explosive effect on the rest of Fleet Street. They were much more fun than the usual dry and rather complex Brussels fare. News editors on other papers, particularly but not exclusively the tabloids, started pressing their own correspondents to match them. By the time I arrived in Brussels editors only wanted stories about faceless Brussels eurocrats imposing absurd rules on Britain, or scheming Europeans ganging up on us, or British prime ministers fighting plucky rearguard actions against a hostile continent.
http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/a-journalist-has-shared-a-story-about-boris-johnson-that-completely-undermines-his-authority-on-the-eu--bkoHJPBuVZ
Denzil_DC
(7,230 posts)Last edited Wed Jul 13, 2016, 07:45 PM - Edit history (1)
http://crookedtimber.org/2016/06/28/boris-johnson/
Denzil_DC
(7,230 posts)johnp3907
(3,730 posts)non sociopath skin
(4,972 posts)... me and Mrs. Skin talked about it over supper.
And the more I think about it, the more I think that Theresa May have pulled a rather clever "flanker" here. He's not in a position to turn down one of the "Great Offices of State" but not only is the Foreign Office a poison chalice right now, it's particularly toxic one for Yer Man.
Just suppose that what Cruella is saying to him is "You broke it - you fix it".
She went out of her way to say, even before she was elected that "Brexit Means Brexit" so she's set down a very clear marker - pretty much the opposite of Bo Zo who, before the ink was dry on the Returning Officer's report, was hurrying to shuffle backwards from the consequences.
But now he can shuffle no more if he wishes to retain credibility. Either he negotiates a Euro-friendly solution - in the face of which his remarks during the Referendum will continually be brought back to haunt him by his many enemies - or he negotiates an unfriendly one, for which the consequences will be on his head.
Either way, his path to Downing Street will be severely challenged.
And now I see that she may have stitched up his buddy Dai the Davies in much the same way.
Yes, I may end up having a grudging respect for Cruella for this one, if for nothing else she ever does.
The Skin
Matilda
(6,384 posts)Then decided there had to be some politicking behind the scenes that we didn't know about or understand.
This guy has to try to get the best deal for Britain from the EU - will they laugh at him, or hit him?
I'm sure there's much we don't know, but Boris and delicate negotiations - I think not.
Feeling a bit bemused at the moment.
Nihil
(13,508 posts)... when discussing this with my son last night: "You broke it, it's yours!" and delivered
in a manner that he has no chance to back-pedal away.
I have to say that in this - as well as for Davies & Patel - May has already proved herself
a master (mistress?) of making the punishment fit the crime ... (just like the Mikado ...).
Denzil_DC
(7,230 posts)...
Tonight, State Department spokesman Mark Toner tried valiantly ... and failed to keep a straight face when confronted with the news Boris had been made Foreign Secretary.
And if you watch the clip carefully, you can see the exact moment the awful truth hits him.
...
For his part, Mr Johnson has accepted he might have a few apologies to make before he starts his new job.
...
Asked if he had anyone to apologise to, perhaps President Obama, he said: The United States of America will be at the front of the queue
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/state-department-spokesman-told-boris-8417326
Dworkin
(164 posts)Denzil,
For those of us in the UK with a liberal disposition, reading news and posting on forums could become a miserable grind for a while. Yes, we do need to see the funny side of this Tower of Babel, unless we retire permanently to a life of gardening.
Keep up the good work!
D.
RogueTrooper
(4,665 posts)BooScout
(10,406 posts)There is just no logical explanation for this appointment.
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)delicate trade agreements with no leverage, massive need, and a complete fucking buffoon leading the charge.
LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)T_i_B
(14,737 posts)...Gove and Theresa May did have a public spat in the last parliament so I'm not wholly surprised that she wanted him out.
My former MP John Whittingdale has gone as well. I'll let somebody else make the inevitable fruity joke about what he will be doing in the backbenches.....
muriel_volestrangler
(101,301 posts)She was appointed to her new post running the Department for International Development on Thursday by the new Prime Minister, Theresa May.
In 2013 Ms Patel said: A long-term strategic assessment is required, including the consideration to replace DfID with a Department for International Trade and Development in order to enable the UK to focus on enhancing trade with the developing world and seek out new investment opportunities in the global race.
It is possible to bring more prosperity to the developing world and enable greater wealth transfers to be made from the UK by fostering greater trade and private sector investment opportunities.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-international-development-secretary-priti-patel-called-for-department-for-international-a7137331.html
And since May has created a department for International Trade, with the corrupt Liam Fox as its head, Patel thinks her department is pointless. Brilliant.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)I guess the US isn't the only country with ridiculous politicians...
unblock
(52,195 posts)of course, now he's saying, i ducked out of the pm job to escape exactly that responsibility....
muriel_volestrangler
(101,301 posts)In his first public speech in his new role, Mr Johnson told the audience at the French Ambassador's residence that Anglo-French intergovernmental relations would be strengthened as the UK moves to leave the EU.
It was not clear whether the booing came from British or French guests, or both.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36798992
LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)(1) Isn't it interesting that one of our worst politicians has a surname that means 'Prick' to Americans, and one of their worst politicians has a surname that means 'Fart' to the British?
(2) Q: Why should Boris Johnson be called 'Johnson' instead of 'Boris'?
A: Because he certainly isn't Godunov!
T_i_B
(14,737 posts)Erm, yes, isnt it? Hello, Im Boris, the, erm, you know, chap in charge of the foreign types and everything, said Mr Johnson as he combed crunchy nut corn flakes out of his hair.
I just want to take this opportunity to reassure everyone that I, a man unable to negotiate a zip wire, is perfectly able to handle the events taking place in that Ottomanland place just next to where we have our summer hols.
So essentially, no one panic because Im Boris and Im brilliant at foreigners.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,301 posts)T_i_B
(14,737 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,230 posts)the You Couldn't Make It Up Office:
https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/754071415612116992
T_i_B
(14,737 posts)There you go. More informative than anything on a politicians twitterfeed.
Denzil_DC
(7,230 posts)The FCO has its own Twitter feed, which did give that link.
Which raises the disturbing possibility that they may be letting Boris run his own Twitter account, rather than filtering it through a staffer.
What could possibly go wrong?