Rubbish. All through Thatcher's reign we had Spitting Image yet the pols were fine. They all loved the attention.
Westminster Politics
- Thread starter altodevil
- Start date
Rubbish. All through Thatcher's reign we had Spitting Image yet the pols were fine. They all loved the attention.
That‘s different though. There’s a huge difference between Spitting Image’s cartoon caricatures which often sent up the image the politicians were themselves attempting to portray and the acerbic ridicule you find on social media which is calculated character assassination.
The likes of Johnson, Cummings, Hancock, Gove, Patel, Raab and co are getting the same treatment Corbyn and Abbott received and it’s not easy to recover from.
It depends on the nature of the ridicule, always. You can bet your life that Mrs Thatcher relished being portrayed as the only strong man in her government...that is, if she'd ever looked at a television screen.
Certainly David Steel is on recording as stating his Spitting Image caricature as a tiny man in David Owen's pocket had a significant impact on his career
Yeah. I have a poor memory yet even I can remember 'killer' lines from those Steel/Owen sketches, none of them flattering to Steel.
The difference with the big red bus lie was that Cummings and Boris had a large BrExit seeking constituency hoping he’d be right as well as it being an amazing benefit if it were true.
This context of this recent set of lies is totally different: there is no pro Covid19 vote base, 99% of the population have suffered by taking opposite decisions to his, with a vocal minority seriously suffering from emotional or psychological trauma because of that. And IF Cummings did have the rights to trust his ‘instincts’, then that must mean the other 99% are worse parents for not having done the same.
Cummings decisions cannot garner empathy with a large enough constituency. Plus he also further antogonised the media in his excuses, and they won’t ever forget that.
Lies are a dangerous business because you have to tell increasingly bigger ones to defend to original lie. As those require others to lie for you. Tory Ministers, MP’s and media outriders already sound ridiculous trying to defend him. That is not sustainable under ferocious and sustained scrutiny.
As social distancing measures relax, I can see families and friends of those who died (including Tory and Leave voters) attending protests, sharing more tragic stories and becoming further entrenched in their outrage. Their shared experience will unify them. It actually the perfect project for a group like Momentum to organise and propagate.
Even if Cummings survives a few weeks, is he able to perform his role as belligerent enforcer amongst Tory Government and civil service any more? He becomes a lame duck. Which in turn makes Boris one too. Cummings position has become untenable.
Last edited:
I don't disagree entirely. He's got so many enemies he's effectively been a dead man walking since they got into power. The press are still smarting about how he tried to control them in the run up to the election so are unlikely to let this drop.
I wasn't trying to say that this is a winning strategy, however. Just that his job is to try and manipulate media narrative and that he does use methods that ostensibly appear to be one thing when in fact they are another.
Last edited:
This definitely puts paid to the theory amongst some that he was the only decent member of the cabinet. Deliberate gaslighting and a failure to understand public mood.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Yvette Cooper just smashed Boris.
'Highlights' from Boris Johnson's committee hearing:
"The last time a prime minister appeared before the committee was 12 months ago," Sir Bernard Jenkin said.
"Can you, prime minister, commit to attending regularly this and again before summer recess?"
Boris Johnson asks if he can get back to him on that as “there is a lot on at the moment.'”
-------
"Inquiry into Cummings' actions not a good use of official time" says Johnson.'
-------
'"We need to move on," says Johnson'
"The last time a prime minister appeared before the committee was 12 months ago," Sir Bernard Jenkin said.
"Can you, prime minister, commit to attending regularly this and again before summer recess?"
Boris Johnson asks if he can get back to him on that as “there is a lot on at the moment.'”
-------
"Inquiry into Cummings' actions not a good use of official time" says Johnson.'
-------
'"We need to move on," says Johnson'
Boris getting roasted right now.
When will one of them ask ...what Is the hold that Cummings has over him (Boris) ?
When will one of them ask ...what Is the hold that Cummings has over him (Boris) ?
..and now they've completed the set by having the uncle who doesn't understand that his attempts to be cool are actually very cringy and make him look like an absolute whopper. How can you be so shite at understanding people? This whole cabinet is fecking awful at empathy.
"Prime Minister, did you just steal my wallet?"
"No."
"Can you prove it?"
"Yes."
"Can I see the proof?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's magic."
"No."
"Can you prove it?"
"Yes."
"Can I see the proof?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's magic."
Hunt laying into Johnson at the moment.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Ha! Couldn't agree more.
Difficult not to look at him playing long term political games too, for when Boris does step down/ is ousted, whenever that may be.
There is some massive irony with Jeremy Hunt whenever he talks about the NHS 
Johnson just comes across as a bigger buffoon in this, and this is what should be an easier ride than a public press conference.
Johnson just comes across as a bigger buffoon in this, and this is what should be an easier ride than a public press conference.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Hilarious how quick the BBC is to apologise when its annoys the right-wing.
If Jeremy Hunt is our champion then we're proper fecked.
Christ, who managed to convince Yvette Cooper that Boris is disabled? Not seen her that fired up since they had enough money to live on, without having to jump through flaming hoops.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Did you see her entire exchange? Full of ferocious soundbites and fire.
Maybe there was a photo of disabled parking spaces that we couldn't see.
Forget the Cummings questions, Johnson is struggling with the Covid questions
He needs to go, absolute embarrassment. This government is the worst I've seen, yes worse than the 2008 recession Labour government.
He is blatantly unfit.
Any kind of question that requires even the tiniest detail, he fumbles.
Any kind of question that requires even the tiniest detail, he fumbles.
Last edited:
Seems like Cummings isn't the only one who needs to resign
No chance are this government lasting the next four years, they'll be another election before then.
He's always been like this. The country still voted for the fatuous tit anyway in their droves.
No, they might change their leader. They have an 80 seat majority. They'll never call an election and no-one can force one.
Sad fact is Boris isn’t going anywhere. He is into an 80 seat majority and he does not give a crap. Goodness only knows the mess the country will be in but it’s miraculous people are only finding out how he is now!
At least he actually has to work for a living now. He was expecting a big wheeze for four years of enriching him and his mates. He must hate how hard he has to work now.
Jeez ... BBC has become a bit of a farce
'The really important thing now is you all stop asking me these difficult questions' is the jist of his feedback to committee so far.
For actual feck sake.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date