This thread has made me smile because it’s obvious that every PM makes mistakes in someone’s eyes depending on your leanings. Isn’t it lovely that we’re free to criticise in this country without being ‘disappeared’!
I agree Boris Johnson is unwell, he felt he had to come back, but it was too soon. No one knows the long term effects of this virus, as I learned for myself yesterday.
I suppose it depends on what you mean by “worse”. For me Cameron for doing the whole Brexit referendum and then disappearing. As far as incompetence goes then Johnson. I’d like Jacinda or someone like her.
Gordon Brown must rank as a contender for the worst PM, on top of that the 2008 financial crisis was nurtured when he was chancellor. Boris and his cronies are actually dangerous, because they have radical ideas and the majority to get them through parliament, regardless of the consequences. I’m sure they regret the 80% furlough it was intended to be short term, it will end up 6 months in some sectors.
I agree LG, I think he .came back to work far too soon and it shows! I guess he felt he had to particularly with these trade talks going on, after all that's what he was voted into office to do, so obviously is duty bound probably to the detriment of his own health. To be commended I'd have thought!
It IS possible to see the difference between ineffective/bad at the job and personal dislike.
I HATED Thatcher. We all know why. I don't need to explain it. But I understand that for a long time, she was a successful politician/leader. Despite my hating what she did.
Johnson is not in that category. He's bad at his job because he is not politician material.
Incompetent, lying super egotist. His performance yesterday when asked if he had evidence of false statements regarding Cummins was a comedy of disbelief as he attempted not to answer. However, when stuck in a corner he said he had but wouldn’t reveal it. Never mind Cummins is in charge of “get Brexit done” and Johnson is following the script as we crash out as we run out of time with no discussions. Poor Uk, poor us.
Just looking at what the European papers are saying about this country is humiliating. Johnson has shown himself to be lazy, indecisive, lacking a grasp of detail, narcissistic and in love with the idea of power. Now that he has power, he may be having second thoughts. He is certainly over-dependent on his unattractive adviser, forcing his unfortunate ministers to support Cummings who has enraged the populace by disregarding the lockdown. I could go on.
annie yes the time to judge policies will be just before an election, but the time to judge competence and being on top of a brief is as soon as they get elected.
I think its strange that many people judge BJs competence by his style of delivery. A little like how many people regard someone with a speech impediment as being of a lower intellect. I watch the media basically acting like school yard bullies mocking the boy with the lisp. As mentioned he facilitated the removal of the Brexit logjam, delivered a pre Covid budget that even the Labour party had to concede was a very socialist budget. Supported individuals through furlough and other financial initiatives. Yes our death rate is high, is that incompetence? I think mistakes have been made however made without malice. I think there are far more things that have played into the death rate mix than purely government actions and time will tell. How many other PMs have subjected themselves to public scrutiny in front of the Liaison Committee? Maybe he didn’t have all the answers, what General Manger does, that is why they employ departmental managers to have the expertise. Many people’s political biases are made on historical events often centuries old and totally unrelated to todays Society and its needs.
Whitewave, I was not speaking of policies, Blair was PM for ten years, Thatcher for 11 years, Wilson six years and two years, Brown three years, Callaghan three years,
6 months cannot be compared with the these to judge a premiership