O/T:- ⚠️Impressed with the leadership [The UK Party Politics Thread]

[sidders]

The ummming and errring seems to happen when he’s answering questions or being interviewed etc. It’s a persona he’s worked years on perfecting, and it’s stood him in good stead over the years. Last night he became the statesman everyone needs him to be … and he was reading from a teleprompter.

Of course he was, but that doesn't preclude stammering. Someone has impressed upon him that it's time for straight speaking and no messing. Corbyn would have had no chance, what with the dirty washing attached to him by the right wing media.
I still think Boris's skill set is seriously lacking for a PM, but he really is making the best of a bad job.

[GranthamPie]

He’s an idiot... and thousands upon thousands will die because of his stupidity

[LaxtonLad]

He’s an idiot... and thousands upon thousands will die because of his stupidity

Who is?

[upthemaggies]

I am however positive that Trump is about to condemn a lot of people to death.

Trump on Monday "People get tremendous anxiety and depression and you have suicide over things like this, when you have a terrible economy, you have death..... definitely be in far greater numbers than we’re talking about with regard to the virus.”
Looks like he's intent on relaxing restrictions quite soon.

Meanwhile studies are showing that people who die are doing so from 2-8 weeks after first showing symptoms. 8 weeks!!! This could push the death ratio up significantly, over 5%,, which is a big jump from the 1% figure we've been seeing, and then of course you've got people who survive critical care with permanent lung damage and are incapacitated in terms of ability to work or needing additional care/help.

[upthemaggies]

He’s an idiot... and thousands upon thousands will die because of his stupidity

If we're talking about Boris, it's easy to judge these things with hindsight but just a few days could have made a big difference and I think you'd have to say there has been a lot of dithering and mixed messages over the past week or so.

[seriouspie]

He’s an idiot... and thousands upon thousands will die because of his stupidity

A Jeremy disciple are you or more likely a Conchie? ....... Well soon that Arseole and anti British negative Failure will be back (literally) on the benches where he belongs. Get used to it youth and be happy....... you've got Boris to curse at for the next 10 years or more and it won't make a jot of difference.

[sidders]

A Jeremy disciple are you or more likely a Conchie? ....... Well soon that Arseole and anti British negative Failure will be back (literally) on the benches where he belongs. Get used to it youth and be happy....... you've got Boris to curse at for the next 10 years or more and it won't make a jot of difference.

Your capacity for stereotyping is undiminished, Serious. Where does Grantham say he is a Corbyn supporter? Even some Tories disapprove of Boris and bt this time next year there will be even more of them.

[upthemaggies]

Boris could very easily be taken down over this crisis, not by Labour necessarily but I can see him being replaced by a new Tory prime minister well before the next election is due. The press won him the election, no question about it, and they will turn on him soon enough, for very different reasons than the people suffering at the bottom will want him gone, but it will happen. The man is an archetypal public school buffoon, I can't think of a better example in the entire history of politics.

Trump on the other hand could kill off half his own population and still survive, so long as he's up against Biden. Some of the footage coming out of Biden clearly suffering from the onset of dementia is unreal. People have made jokes about previous president's mental capacities but Biden is on another level, you think you've seen it all in American politics but this is absolutely incredible.

[i961pie]

We have a prime minister taking advice from medical and scientific experts yet the ordinary Joe on here know more than them.
He should listen to NCMad.

[upthemaggies]

We have a prime minister taking advice from medical and scientific experts yet the ordinary Joe on here know more than them..

I don't think that's the issue, it's the lack of clarity, mixed messages, dithering and apparent U-turn on herd immunity - which they/he put down to a "a change in science" when in fact, the WHO had been consistent in what steps needed to be taken all along and other countries have followed, not necessarily quickly enough but no other country thought it would be a good idea to just allow the virus to basically run riot (although Trump might be about to go down that route).

[the_anticlough]

I don't think that's the issue, it's the lack of clarity, mixed messages, dithering and apparent U-turn on herd immunity - which they/he put down to a "a change in science" when in fact, the WHO had been consistent in what steps needed to be taken all along and other countries have followed, not necessarily quickly enough but no other country thought it would be a good idea to just allow the virus to basically run riot (although Trump might be about to go down that route).

That's sums it up to a tee, UTM.

[Notsohumblepie]

In the past 24 hours I've noticed a distinct difference between the tone and approach of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. McDonnell (in the interviews I've seen) has adopted a relatively statesmanlike national unity-type stance and moderated his political comment, while Corbyn has been quite sneering and surly. I don't know if it's an intentional "good cop, bad cop" strategy or just a straight difference in how they believe they should approach the issue, but McDonnell has looked the more accomplished.

I think Jonathan Ashworth has been brilliant , supportive, but lots of valid questions, and interventions. Corbyn is just a stage prop now.

[jackal2]

I think Jonathan Ashworth has been brilliant , supportive, but lots of valid questions, and interventions. Corbyn is just a stage prop now.

Yes, his political 'stock' has definitely risen and McDonnell has struck the right tone, while Corbyn has had a bit of a 'mare.

A smart politician should see a situation like this as an opportunity rather than a threat, especially if they are in opposition, because the Government will ship most if not all the blame that's going while an astute opponent will tread the line between statesmanlike support in the interests of national unity, whilst still throwing in enough subtle barbs to score a point here and there.

Regardless of which Government was in power I think it's better to be dealing with an issue like this just after an election rather than just before, because it means the governing politicians are more likely to follow the expert advice even if it means being unpopular or being seen to change direction (the dreaded U-turn!). If this had been towards the end of a Government's time in office you might see short-term political considerations overriding evolving scientific ones more often, which could be problematic.

[Elite_Pie]

Two weeks too late.

Unfortunately, if you were forced to give a four word summary of the way the government have handled this crisis, I think that would be hard to beat.

[BanjoPie]

I think Jonathan Ashworth has been brilliant , supportive, but lots of valid questions, and interventions. Corbyn is just a stage prop now.

sadly, Ashworth is another ditherer