It seems as if every major political party in the UK, is dissatisfied with its current leadership. OK, Brexit times are difficult, but some unanimity would be very welcome. The Conservatives, Labour, and even UKIP are in turmoil; I'm not so sure about the Lib Dims or Greenies as they are of no importance.
One who may soon be wooing for Tory leadership is lovable Boris (above).
CV: After Ashdown House, he was awarded a King's Scholarship to Eton. Later he was awarded a further Scholarship to Balliol, from where he graduated with an upper 2nd class degree in Literae Humaniores. Whilst at Oxford he also became President of the Oxford Union. No mean feats.
Post-Oxford he worked for The Times, and The Telegraph, before becoming editor of The Spectator. He was elected MP for Henley in 2001, then Mayor of London between 2008 and 2016. In between time, Boris has written 12 books; amongst which was his highly acclaimed biography of Churchill. He returned to parliament in 2015 and is at present the UK's Foreign Secretary.
Some journalists like to refer to him as a 'bumbling old fool', but take a look into those hacks' own CV's, and you might find evil green eyed monsters lurking between very sparse achievement pages. Personally I would be extremely proud to have accomplished just a fraction of what Boris has!
I've not met mop-haired Boris, but I'm always hearing that he is an extremely likeable funny and intelligent person. Not at all the pompous nincompoop that the left will have us believe.
In the UK there is widespread hatred of the high achiever, as well as the well educated. There is also hatred of the fortunate. Combine these qualities into one Boris, and you have the perfect target for Corbyn's angry 'chip on shoulder' brigade. If there's one thing the left hate above all else it's any hint of success from a Tory, his/her party, or their policies.
There are two natural contenders for any future leadership of The Conservative Party; Rees-Mogg (I've already written about R-M), and Boris. Both unequalled in the 'house' as intellectuals, and both very determined politicians. Neither takes prisoners, or suffers their fools gladly; so beware!
Gawd knows who I'd choose to replace May (when the time eventually comes), but even a golfer's divot would be better than leaving a void for Comrade Corbyn, Abbott, et al.
Mrs May is an honest and dedicated politician, but she lacks 'fight' and 'direction'. I just hope that whoever takes over from her will be both tough (on Europe), and a far, far, better 'tub thumper'.
Good morning Cro,it seems that leadership, the "real" thing, is a world wide problem now days,here too.
ReplyDeleteIt would be good, occasionally, to see our politicians united. They all fight their seats under one manifesto, then as soon as they're elected they start in-fighting. It doesn't do much for our confidence in politicians.
DeleteGood old Boris seems to me to be the epitomy of upper class British bumblers but he is obviously extremely well read and would give those bloody EU officials a run for their money. I see May is being called spineless and inefficient in her brexit negotiations. Bring on Boris!!
ReplyDeleteShe's a politician of the John Major or Alec Douglas-Home type; very good in most ways, but far too soft when it comes to EU negotiations.
DeleteRubbish.
DeleteJust my opinion. Anyone who could agree to a two year settlement period, where we continue to pay the same money and have no say in matters, needs to rethink.
DeleteI have met Boris albeit very briefly, he is not stupid, he is very intelligent, sharp witted and funny
ReplyDeleteThat's what everyone tells me.
DeleteIf PM Question Time is anything to go by Theresa May is a very able woman. Spineless? Never! As for the Brexit Cabinet and not being united, do not be fooled by what the papers want you to believe. I don't think it is time for Boris yet.
ReplyDeleteI like May, but I think we need someone much tougher to negotiate with those buggers in Brussels. Someone who's prepared to say 'NO'.
DeleteI would like to see someone prepared to drop negotating and finish it once and for all and commence trade with those awaiting us. I don't there is anyone capable of that.
DeleteThat's what I mean. A much tougher stance is needed.
DeleteDon't forget that at PMQ's she only has to deal with little Jeremy; hardly the same as the Brussels mob.
DeleteI've met Boris and Theresa and although I am absolutely positive that they do not remember me I am sure that both of them in their turn are 'up to the job' and deal with things that are very much the art of the possible. Politics is never a question of being able to do as you want - I don't want a Dictatorship however benign.
ReplyDeleteI think she's fine at handling domestic affairs; in fact she's doing very well. But with the Brussels bully-boys at her ankles, I think she could use some help.
DeleteThe trouble with Boris is that he is more interested in the acquisition of power than he is in serving his country. It is not a good idea to have a buffoon as Foreign Secretary either, but she had no choice. In the old days he would have been Minister for Northern Ireland or the Arts, depending on how much she liked him.
ReplyDeleteHe's no buffoon. The press like to give that impression, but I can assure he's a very capable politician.
DeleteYou can assure Tom that Johnson is not only a capable but a VERY capable politician? How so, Cro? Capable of what? What makes you so much more in the know than some of the best brains and political observers in Britain?
DeleteI agree with Tom, and for a long time it was said in an affectionate way, Johnson is a baffoon, by definition a likeable one. The type of guy you'd love to have as a (not to be relied upon) friend and/or round your dinner party table, but most certainly not running the country. I agree with you that he is highly intelligent or at least a good conversationalist, however, since when does intelligence make you a good negotiator, a diplomat, holding yourself back for the greater good? Tom's suggestion is amusing, and hits the nail on the head, "Minister for Northern Ireland of the Arts". Thanks for the laugh, Tom.
Now before you, as is your wont, just dismiss me as stupid because I don't tow your line, once upon a time I too thought Boris would make a fine figure of a Statesman. But that was before the whole referendum disaster. Did you see his face the next morning, when best laid plans fell apart because of a result he had neither expected nor wanted? Since then it's become so very obvious, and that is what Tom is hinting at, he is more self serving than having the interests of his country at heart. I know facts sometimes hurt but that doesn't make them fiction.
U
I love to read the left's opinion about people of exception; you really don't like them, do you.
DeleteNow let me assure YOU, that someone who becomes President of the Oxford Union is not to be pushed about. That august position is not granted to just anyone.
I'm not dismissing you as stupid, just misguided by envy; as are so many left wingers.
I don't understand, Cro: Envious of what? Do you have to be categorized (Tory, Leftie, extra terrestial) to form an opinion on someone's suitability for the job, any job?
DeleteAnyway, it's really cute, my political life in England that is; not that I am allowed to vote. There were people (friends) who could barely bring themselves to talk to me because I thought Thatcher, in many respects, was the bee's knees turning England's financial fortunes - remember I am an outsider, a foreigner, an innocent observer from the outside in. So,yes, there were occasions I was slaughtered for my allegiances, and now, when I question Johnson, you declare me that most miserable, in your opinion, of creatures, namely a Leftie. I can't help but laugh at the follie of it all.
U
As long as you have had a good laugh; I have been successful.
DeleteI'd vote for Boris.
ReplyDeleteJean
I'd certainly like to give him a bash at it.
DeleteI much prefer his sister. She's no arrogance and very liberal.
ReplyDeleteShe writes well too
DeleteThey are a clever family.
DeleteMay is either very clever and is a fifth columnist or completely out of her depth. She should concentrate on gurning.
ReplyDeleteBoris is fine, the country could do well with him as leader.
The left are , for the most part, consumed by envy. Some are decent but their inferiority complex will always stop them achieving their potential.
Their attitude towards anyone of real intelligence and talent is ridiculous. One only has to look at their 'front bench' to see the standards to which they aspire.
DeleteBoris is the very epitome of what he is:
ReplyDeletean overgrown and under developed public schoolboy who treats life as a game for his own amusement.
Very similar in character as yourself Cro and what you write on this blog.
Let me guess... are you a leftie by any chance?
DeleteNo, definitely not a lefty just a man with discernment :)
DeleteMy bro
ReplyDeleteis a fan of BoJo.
That's all I know.
He sounds like a good bro'.
DeleteI just read that Mogg was slightly roughed up at some uni or other on Friday. I believe there's the usual mobile phone video of the incident on the net. Maybe BoJo would have weighed in with a hefty jab had he been molested, purely in self defense of course.
DeleteHe stood his ground and got support via Twitter from many.
DeleteThe rabble are not keen on 'free speech'.
DeleteFootage shows that it was a Rees Mogg 'supporter' who threw a punch at a female protestor. It appears Rees Mogg tried to stop things escalating, and that's how he became embroiled in the pushing and shoving. Photographs have emerged of said 'supporter' wearing a Nazi uniform at what looks like a social function of some sort. Rees Mogg has said that he does not know the man involved.
DeleteAs I really don;t know what I want for myself I hardly feel qualified to say what I know Boris wants for himself. As with us all he presents his public persona. But you are right in saying Cro that no one can question his intelligence and his ability to concentrate on the matter in had whatever it be.
ReplyDeleteI do understand that he's not everyone's cup of tea, but there's no doubting his abilities (which I believe the Americans appreciate far more than the Brits).
DeleteWow... you certainly got them all going there Cro. And I thought the majority of bloggers were decent honest folk.
ReplyDeleteWith a subject such as this, that's what I was after. It sorts the men out from the boys (so to speak).
DeleteI'm a Socialist but I don't agree with Corbyn as leader of the party, far too extreme for my taste (totally unnecessary in this day and age) Seems to me that May is doing her best under the circumstances (I'm a remainer) but why do people have to talk about how she looks? What has that to do with it? Re Rees Mogg and Boris. Surely no one wants a strict Catholic anti- abortion ,anti-gay to take us back a century, irrespective of how clever R-M is. Not too sure how it would pan out with Boris, he's a bit random and no one is ever sure what he is going to do next. Yes Cro, the Americans do like him, but then they like Nigel Farage and Donald Trump!I don't think people in the UK ( and I take it you mean "the workers") dislike intelligent, educated people at all, but they are no longer impressed by privileged people. I don't think it matters where you live Cro, it's how you see yourself. That's MY two penny worth.
ReplyDeleteGill
I don't think R-M's attitude towards abortion and gays does him any favours whatsoever, but apparently it's his 'religion' (he could always leave them!). I have to disagree with your last point; the left have even proposed that less adept people are admitted to Oxbridge; they really don't like having to achieve high standards.
DeleteA well educated high achiever. Great credentials, except I've not really looked into what he wants to achieve, so I'll go with Rachel for now.
ReplyDeleteThe Conservatives hold the 'middle ground' in UK politics, and I suppose he is a good representative. He's also quite tough and determined.
DeleteI met Boris when he was Mayor of London. He is exactly as you have described him, smart, funny and engaging. . You could do a lot worse. I am on the left and no envy here.
ReplyDeleteI would also also add he is always well prepared. He does his homework.
ReplyDeleteHe's no fool; a friend of ours knows him well, and says much the same.
Delete