Is Boris's trip essential?

I seek information here regarding unnecessary journeys, please. Other than Boris, are Scottish MPs ever making the journey to Westminster or are they all staying at their premises in London?

Not so long ago posters were asking were is the PM why is he not out and about .

He has every right to visit British Troops who are manning vaccination centres, along with laboratory staff it shows that they are not forgotten and that they are very much appreciated.

Why doesn’t he visit troops but leave the official photographer at home? His journey not essential surely. There must be local photographers who could step in, or better still just don’t take any photos. There must be troops nearer Westminster he could visit if that was the aim of the journey.

Nicola S doesn’t tour around vaccination centres in Scotland. She has made it clear she is not making unnecessary trips.

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202101/medium-191111-capture.png%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202101/medium-287715-capture1.png%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202101/medium-91682-capture2.png%3C/span%3E

Fair to say that the visit hasn't been an unqualified success. In case anybody hasn't seen the Scottish press this morning....

I would have included the Daily Telegraph front page but they decided not to cover the visit. And the Daily Mail thought it was more important to highlight that our Finance Minster had got engaged.

I wish I could convey the anger and disgust that was felt by the staff in the largest hospital in Scotland, which is yards away from the lab he visited, who are appalled by his behaviour . They arrived for work yesterday morning and negotiated their way around a heavy police presence on the campus to start another exhausting shift.

I heard it said if he had bumbled his way in there extending elbow bumps he may have required a visit to theatre to have his elbow removed from his rear end before setting off again to the airport.

He's damned if he does, and he's damned if he doesn't, as someone pointed out about 5 pages back.

Riverwalk - just started reading this thread - love "Bozzer"!! Shall probably now use it whenever i can!!

Scottish MPs are usually seen taking part in Parliament from their homes, Kim19.
If they do travel to London for work, that is allowed.

There was nothing essential about the 'work' Johnson did in Scotland.
Grannynannywanny tells us how counter-productive his visit was.
It was intended as a 'charm-offensive' but came across as quite repulsive instead.

Sparklefizz

He's damned if he does, and he's damned if he doesn't, as someone pointed out about 5 pages back.

Nah, I think for most in Scotland he's damned because he did.

He pretended it was to cheer up the troops and make sure everything was running to plan, and then gave interviews about Scottish independence.

No excuses, he thinks we're all daft.

GrannyGravy13 I don't recall anyone asking why Johnson was not out and about.
They were asking why he wasn't being seen at all, at the time, as he wasn't even doing any covid updates.

While on the subject of unnecessary travel, why is the G 7 summit still planned in Cornwall for June when we are all being told not to plan travel abroad this Summer

Thank you, FarN. Appreciated. Somewhat confused by the public appearance of MPs when I've previously seen them in a perfect private (safer) place appearing on a show. I guess both come under the heading of work. I guess my quandary is whether their physical presence is ever necessary. Again, thanks FN.

No, probably not essential travel but it is his job to be seen, to be personally thanking great effort, to be personally showing sympathy in troubled times.
‘Come and see for yourself Prime Minister’.

Who asked Johnson to come and see?

Being seen and personally thanking are not essential.

As for the elbow bumps, why? They're almost as bad as the 'shaking hands with everyone' Johnson was so proud of - which turned out to be a really bad idea.

Alegrias1

It just gets better. From the BBC website:

The prime minister’s visit to Scotland today has been criticised in the Commons for “undermining the public health message” of Covid-19.

The SNP’s House of Commons spokesman Tommy Sheppard said that in normal times he would be delighted for Boris Johnson to visit Scotland because it resulted in a boost in support for his party.

But, he said, now was not the time for such visit and people should be maintaining social distancing protocols.

In reply, the leader of the Commons, Conservative MP Jacob Rees Mogg, dismissed the criticism.

He described Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as “Miss Moan A Lot”.

Way to go in endearing yourself to the peasants, Jacob.

Is this acceptable ?? In Parliament ??

No, it is not. Jacob Rees Mogg's comment on NS, repeated several times- should have been stopped by the Speaker immediately- he should have been reminded that it broke HoC rules, and told to stop and apologise.

The Speaker is truly so disappointing and totally lacksthe necessary skills to keep the HoC civil.

Judge for yourself

youtu.be/6OZW1y544yM

FarNorth: As for the elbow bumps, why? They're almost as bad as the 'shaking hands with everyone' Johnson was so proud of - which turned out to be a really bad idea.

Exactly. Why does he insist on those silly elbow bumps? I'm afraid I wouldn't want to be elbow bumped by him or anybody else. Also, does our PM know what a distance of 2 m looks like? Mind you, when I see people queueing few of them stand 2 m away. I believe metrication is still a mystery to many.

after nearly 50 years yyiikkeess !

Two young men have just been fined £10k for organising a snowball fight in Leeds. I can't help wondering if when they see Bozzer galavanting around the country with all his security, advisers etc young peope just think "if the law doesn't apply to him why should it apply to me?" and do as they like?

I don't think so in this case trisher. The reaction up here has more or less been "what a plonker". That's the polite word.

Has Ms Sturgon not been speaking again about another referendum?

Well Anniebach you'd think so from the news coverage, wouldn't you? It's in the manifesto for the May elections which is hardly surprising given that the SNP are in support of independence. But the FM has been scrupulous about avoiding talking about the referendum or independence in public or on the press briefings during the pandemic.

The Conservative opposition on the other hand, can't stay away from the topic.

Thank you Alegrias1 I don’t listen to her so thought the visit
by Boris was related to that.

I know the SNP want independence but the referendum showed over 50% didn’t.

Annie some have changed their minds. The last 20 polls have shown >50% support for independence. Boris's little PR exercise won't have done that figure any harm.

The Greens want independence too. And some labour voters.

www.france24.com/en/uk/20210129-johnson-rallies-the-union-on-a-tour-of-scotland-amid-rising-support-for-independence