International views on Boris Johnson
Content contribution from William (Pop) Braniff
Darren has drawn my attention to Articles in The Guardian which highlight how the International community views Boris Johnson’s pronouncements and his initial attitude to the COVID-19 crisis. Now is perhaps not the time for political comment on Johnson’s leadership, but we should remember.
Guardian Comment.
“The international verdict on Boris Johnson and his zig-zag handling of the pandemic has been damning, with responses ranging from bafflement and disbelief to anger. Many consider the prime minister’s initial laissez-faire approach to the crisis, followed by contradictory signals about his government’s strategy, as an inexplicable bout of British exceptionalism .
“Boris Johnson had gone out publicly and essentially asked Britons ... to accept death,” said the Greek newspaper Ethnos. It declared him “more dangerous than coronavirus” it continues
“Last week Ireland, which shares a land border with the UK, struggled to understand Downing Street’s hesitation. “Boris Johnson is gambling with the health of his citizens,” said the Irish Times”.
On Tuesday, after the prime minister’s sudden reversal, one official in Dublin expressed relief. “The Brits were doing their own thing and it looked like we were going to have to live with it. They got there in the end.” It was a variation of an observation attributed to Winston Churchill about America doing the right thing after exhausting all other options. Foreign observers had become accustomed to Johnson’s breezy pronouncements on Britain steering its own course during Brexit showdowns last year but they winced at hearing the same tone in the context of a global health emergency. He appeared at press conferences alongside the chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, but instead of reassurance Vallance caused consternation by appearing to endorse the idea of allowing much of the population to become infected to develop “herd immunity”.
End of Guardian Comment
New York Times Comment by Boris Johnson (Says it all)
“His whole political appeal has always rested on his capacity for artful ambiguity, for never necessarily meaning anything he says for amusing and uplifting people”.
End
More good news:
We- Mum and I, have now been “confined to barracks” for 11 days, with the occasional walk along the seafront and our morale is still high. The main thing, I think, is to keep mind and body agile. Keep in touch with family, friends and acquaintances. Piccie. The delivery-man cometh, (note the sanitizer spray). Mitchell delivering essential supplies to his grandparents during the COVID-19 crisis.
Darren has drawn my attention to Articles in The Guardian which highlight how the International community views Boris Johnson’s pronouncements and his initial attitude to the COVID-19 crisis. Now is perhaps not the time for political comment on Johnson’s leadership, but we should remember.
Guardian Comment.
“The international verdict on Boris Johnson and his zig-zag handling of the pandemic has been damning, with responses ranging from bafflement and disbelief to anger. Many consider the prime minister’s initial laissez-faire approach to the crisis, followed by contradictory signals about his government’s strategy, as an inexplicable bout of British exceptionalism .
“Boris Johnson had gone out publicly and essentially asked Britons ... to accept death,” said the Greek newspaper Ethnos. It declared him “more dangerous than coronavirus” it continues
“Last week Ireland, which shares a land border with the UK, struggled to understand Downing Street’s hesitation. “Boris Johnson is gambling with the health of his citizens,” said the Irish Times”.
On Tuesday, after the prime minister’s sudden reversal, one official in Dublin expressed relief. “The Brits were doing their own thing and it looked like we were going to have to live with it. They got there in the end.” It was a variation of an observation attributed to Winston Churchill about America doing the right thing after exhausting all other options. Foreign observers had become accustomed to Johnson’s breezy pronouncements on Britain steering its own course during Brexit showdowns last year but they winced at hearing the same tone in the context of a global health emergency. He appeared at press conferences alongside the chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, but instead of reassurance Vallance caused consternation by appearing to endorse the idea of allowing much of the population to become infected to develop “herd immunity”.
End of Guardian Comment
New York Times Comment by Boris Johnson (Says it all)
“His whole political appeal has always rested on his capacity for artful ambiguity, for never necessarily meaning anything he says for amusing and uplifting people”.
End
More good news:
We- Mum and I, have now been “confined to barracks” for 11 days, with the occasional walk along the seafront and our morale is still high. The main thing, I think, is to keep mind and body agile. Keep in touch with family, friends and acquaintances. Piccie. The delivery-man cometh, (note the sanitizer spray). Mitchell delivering essential supplies to his grandparents during the COVID-19 crisis.
posted by Mgybran at 4:35 pm
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