Recording Boris and partner

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of loud marital discord and subsequent reporting to police and left wing newspaper by neighbours, is it deemed acceptable to set up a large scale protest about it?

Not a great cv for the post of Prime Minister, but it seems that as long as he is considered "a bit of a character", "entertaining", "charismatic", etc, etc, that is enough for some voters.

No; it is the fact that he is prepared to do his utmost to deliver Brexit, as promised (and then denied )by the duplicitous, mendacious but undoubtedly pillar of moral rectitude that is Mrs. May.

Of course its an invasion of privacy. If the story is to be believed how disreputable is the neighbour for taping the conversation and then sending it on to the newspaper - what lowlife. Hardly a neighbour you'd want anything to do with.

Silly me, I thought the man who contacted the guardian lived next door to Johnson’s mistress, he lives in the same
building.

Swoose Ask Boris Johnson because he's not showing any sign that he can take politics and his position seriously.

How far are they prepared to go to derail brexit

anniebach You say "drinking and having a snort years ago has been brought up in this thread. I question critcising anyone who has done the same (I didn't snort). His infidelities I feel I can criticise."

So, your method of deciding whether someone's conduct might be considered inappropriate is - (a) I have behaved in that way too = I do not express an opinion or (b) I have not behaved in that way = I can make a public judgment.

When someone aspires to take on a very important role, unless their drinking is habitual and excessive and their drug taking current rather than historic, I don't see these issues of much relevance, nor the fact that they have been unfaithful.

However, Johnson has shown himself to be a totally egocentric, dangerously impetuous and unreliable man in both his public and private life. He has a history of behaving disreputably in many ways - planning to have a journalist beaten up, making damaging and ill thought out statements in his role as Foreign Secretary, indulging in several, extremely costly vanity projects in his role as London Mayor and completely reversing some of the promises made before election to that role.

His intimate and family relationships appear to have been conducted in an equally irresponsible and chaotic way.

Not a great cv for the post of Prime Minister, but it seems that as long as he is considered "a bit of a character", "entertaining", "charismatic", etc, etc, that is enough for some voters.

Of course you've never had a nosy neighbour recording a noisy argument, Coyocan, or calling the police - because you are not (as far as we know) in the runnung for PM!

Ok, so tell me about all the other candidates for PM whose "nosy neighbours" have called the police?

I can't think of a single one in the history of the UK.

Quite correct in my view Anniebach, but surely if those in the public eye are not the type of person to engage in a stable marriage and domestic life, then perhaps they should seek a career outside of public view

Does that mean no divorced individual or anyone who had an affair should be a politician?
Does that apply to politicians from ALL parties?

Or indeed a Trades Union Leader with enormous power?

I think that would severely limit the field.

WW mk2

Who is Dr Louise Raw and what is her connection to the Johnson matter?

'Let’s not forget that those who made this public are Boris and his partner, by shouting at each other so loudly that they could be heard by neighbours.
Most people aiming to be Prime Minister would be more discreet and realise their acts and omissions would be up for public scrutiny.'

Absolutely agree with this.

Grandad

" Quite correct in my view Anniebach, but surely if those in the public eye are not the type of person to engage in a stable marriage and domestic life, then perhaps they should seek a career outside of public view. "
--

Does that mean no divorced individual or anyone who had an affair should be a politician?

Does that apply to politicians from ALL parties?

It is absolutely despicable that the neighbours made a recording and reported it to a newspaper as well, not very neighbourly. There seems to be more to this than meets the eye.

It's not so long ago that the police dismissed situations like this as "just a domestic".
Surely everyone here must have moved with the times and accepted that physical, mental, emotional or verbal abuse constitute a criminal offence and any one of us aware of a situation which might be abusive, is duty bound to do something other than ignore it.
Or are we suggesting that our involvement should be no more than twitching curtains and tutting our disapproval?

My goodness, what with the earlier scenario of Boris kindly putting his arm round his partner to soothe her and now him gently calming her down after a horrid nightmare, what a good thing the neighbour recorded her screaming at him to get off her.

What a really nice man we all now know him to be.

Well said Coyoacan at19.30. I couldn't agree with you more. I just can't understand peoples mentality that they see nothing wrong in what happened or how it was reported.

Day6 There you go again. At least now it is not ALL of us on Gransnet, according to you, it is only MOST of us that have skeletons in our closet, or 'messy incidents' in our past.

I would be happy to let anyone inspect my closet. Although I can guarantee there are no skeletons therein, I am afraid it is rather messy ATM.

Everyone seems to be forgetting that the police investigated the complaint and found there had been no cause for police action.
I have no idea who Dr. Louise Raw is, nor the significance of her comment, but I would take her more seriously if she knew how to spell 'separate'.

Of course you've never had a nosy neighbour recording a noisy argument, Coyocan, or calling the police - because you are not (as far as we know) in the runnung for PM!
Although I am sure you would never, ever, raise your voice either.

Sorry GrannyGravy13 but I would prefer the phone number of toilet paper supplier over that of a Guardian Journalist.

I totally agree with you, Granny23.

I'm shocked that people think this was undue nosiness and all normal stuff, I've never had the police called on me over an argument.

And I would not be making excuses for this type of behaviour in any man or politician, whether they belong to a political party I favour or not.

Ladies, raise your standards, please!

would have known anything about this 'incident' as it would have been quietly buried by the Police.

I believe the police said no action was being taken as it was a 'domestic', as they call rowing couples disturbing neighbours.

The police have nothing to bury, do they?

Johnson ought to have enough tucked away to buy a place with no near neighbours. How would any of us feel if an argument with our partner /spouse was headline news?

I don't think his private life ought to be anyone's business but his own. Most people have skeletons in their closet, as do many of our politicians. I expect most of us have messy incidents in our lives we'd rather forget. This is one of Johnson's and those who oppose him won't let it go, especially now, when he has so much to gain in terms of his career.

I don't like the man, but it seems more than a tad unfair.

Annie and others You do realise that if this couple had not phoned the Guardian, NONE of us, the Electorate of this Country in general nor the select few who are about to choose our next PM, would have known anything about this 'incident' as it would have been quietly buried by the Police.

Would that have been better for all concerned?

My son lives round the corner from them, Day6! He doesn’t think Boris will be there long now.

I didn't know that about Carrie Symonds. What a horrible event/memory to have to live with.

We don't know why they were arguing, but flare ups happen and are resolved, as most couples know. Sounded like theirs was resolved before the police arrived.

I wouldn't be surprised to see her flat up for sale before long. Most people want privacy. If you are in the public eye you do not need neighbours (with recording equipment) sharing the same staircase, or indeed giving you the finger because they don't like your or your politics.

From what I have read about the neighbours (with the Guardian on speed dial, and the woman a privileged and wealthy American heiress, with an active middle finger) I wouldn't want to be anywhere in their vicinity.