Is Boris Johnson an ‘ignorant former leader’ or a ‘man of humour’? Readers can’t agree
Boris Johnson has always been talented at commanding the nation’s attention, and proved particularly attempt in that field this week.
Debate continues over his actions during lockdown – was he ignorant in attending Downing Street parties, or should we focus on what he achieved during his time in office? Readers are divided – share your views below.
■ Boris Johnson faced a stormy three-hour grilling on Wednesday over whether he lied about Partygate – and insisted that every event at Downing Street during lockdown was necessary.
The former prime minister had several bad-tempered exchanges with the seven-strong panel of MPs that will decide his fate.
When asked about a photo showing multiple bottles of alcohol at No.10, Johnson told the privileges committee: ‘It is customary to say farewell to people in this country with a toast.’
Was this arrogant and ignorant former leader of the country even taking into consideration the vast amount of people who lost loved ones due to Covid and who never got to say farewell to close family members, never mind work colleagues? David, Prestwich
■ To Robert Hughes (MetroTalk, Wed), who says Johnson’s legacy is toxic, and other like-minded Boris Bashers. You are clearly totally politically motivated and don’t mention all of the achievements made by this unconventional man.
And with the Boris quotes you provided, such as his comment that a Libyan town could be turned into a luxury resort once the dead bodies were removed, I’m even more convinced he is a man of humour and has the balls to say what many only dare to think. I’d rather have someone lively like Boris than a woke idiot.
So let’s move on. Yes, many mistakes were made during Covid, especially the lockdowns that sought to prevent NHS logjams but made the virus hang around for longer. But, if one recalls, we were following the policies of other countries.
Also, please can correspondents be honest. Is there anyone who obeyed the ridiculous Covid rules to the letter? Col Blake, Ealing
■ Boris is an adult, he should know good behaviour from bad. During lockdown, company meetings were held remotely on Zoom, families and individuals maintained social distancing, and people died without loved ones by their side.
Boris was listening to Matt Hancock, health secretary at the time, just as the electorate were. I could muster a little respect for Johnson if he wholeheartedly admitted he made a severe mistake in his leadership of the government at this time and apologised to the electorate. Lesley, Derbyshire
■ No, Boris Johnson, civil servants don’t need alcohol at leaving parties just because its ‘customary’. At an NHS leaving party, you’re lucky to get a cup of tea and a slice of cake. NHS Worker, by text
■ Johnson’s narcissistic performance in front of the committee made me cringe with sheer embarrassment. I once voted for this charlatan and I’m ashamed I was once stupid enough to do so. Scott, West London
■ Johnson was warned against claiming that all Covid guidance had been followed at No.10 lockdown gatherings but still issued a denial, according to written evidence to the privileges committee.
Martin Reynolds, who was principal private secretary to Johnson, ‘questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times, given the nature of the working environment in No 10.’
Reynolds said Johnson agreed to delete the reference to ‘all guidance’.
Boris then goes off to Prime Minister’s Questions – feeling the overconfidence of one who has always blustered his way through tight situations – and goes ahead to deny responsibility for the parties and includes the reference to guidance.
Is that carelessness? Is it stupidity? Is it recklessness? Is it all three, and more Philip, Manchester
■ I’m looking to go back to work. I know what the word ‘party’ means. Minister for the English language would be ideal. Eddie Peart, Rotherham
■ Neither Boris Johnson nor the privileges committee struck a decisive blow on the other. Hence the only significant event was the break in proceedings to vote on the Windsor Framework post-Brexit legal agreement, in which Boris voted against the government he once led, as did another former PM, Liz Truss.
I was disappointed by those two but pleased that Rishi Sunak and former PM Theresa May voted for it. Andrew Edwards Islington
■ Was it convenient or deliberate that Rishi Sunak chose to reveal his staggering tax returns (Metro, Thu) just when Boris Johnson was being questioned about Partygate?
This from the polished plutocrat who boasts about changing funding formulas to divert money to the wealthiest parts of the UK and not knowing any working-class people.
Rishi’s family fortune is based on an economic model based on limitless wealth and precarious poverty. No doubt he is very comfortable with the growing wealth inequality in the UK. William, Sheffield
■ Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker said Johnson risked looking like a ‘pound shop Nigel Farage’ by voting against the Windsor Framework (Metro, Thu).
Referring to the insult, Jacob Rees-Mogg said later: ‘I would like to be the Woolworths of Nigel Farages.’
Does Mr Rees-Mogg not realise that Woolworths has gone out of business in the UK? Simon, Haslemere
And another thing
■ In reply to Veronyca (MetroTalk, Thu), who took issue with my comments about changing attitudes to mental health. What I meant was to highlight the fallacy that in the past, people just ‘got on with it’ when confronted by difficulties and also that mental health problems are a modern invention.
They have always existed but there was no outlet or support for people. So addictions were an outlet for many – drugs, alcohol or gambling. A previous letter writer had said any issue was ‘just dealt with’ – but that doesn’t acknowledge the fact that people did have to endure bigotry.
How simple it is to say everyone ‘just got on with it’. The lack of empathy they displayed was the point of my letter. Joe, by email
■ Lorraine (Metro, Tue) is shocked that a Spanish firm wants to create the world’s first octopus farm, rearing a million of the creatures and slaughtering them in -3C water. The propensity of mankind to perform barbaric acts has a long and torrid history. As animals ourselves, we are simply doing to animals what they would do to us if the evolutionary boot was on the other foot. Marcia, by email
■ Those MetroTalk correspondents who wish to have a republic instead of a monarchy would do well to remember what happened to countries that became republics in recent history: China, Russia, Germany, Spain and Italy, to start with. John C Kent, Fulham
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