The Words of Wisdom of Boris Johnson - Foreign Secretary

[Deleted member 1418]

Interestingly I've heard from colleagues in the Foreign Office that the dealings they've had with the Foreign Secretary have been very positive; and that he's actually good at his job.

Likewise my experiences with my Secretary of State - Gove - have also been positive; and the general consensus from my colleagues is that he's very much on top of his portfolio and doing a good job.

Incredulous isn't it?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Interestingly I've heard from colleagues in the Foreign Office that the dealings they've had with the Foreign Secretary have been very positive; and that he's actually good at his job.

Likewise my experiences with my Secretary of State - Gove - have also been positive; and the general consensus from my colleagues is that he's very much on top of his portfolio and doing a good job.

Incredulous isn't it?

Gove I get and can go with. Johnson? - well as FS he does not seem to be involved in any significant policy initiatives that I am aware of - he is the diplomatic face of the UK and opinions clearly vary about whether in fact he is any good. Internally maybe - out there in the world where his job really is?

Iain Dale - respected Conservative; up front in the media; and strong advocate of Brexit has had enough of the FS and thinks 100% that he should be sacked. That he should express a '***k business' sentiment when questioned over the likes of concerns of Airbus and Siemens, and just dump any principles over Heathrow...well Dale has had enough - he calls him an embarrassment to the UK - not respected and a figure of fun across the globe.

And that not from me but from a prominent Tory Brexiteer.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

- he is the diplomatic face of the UK and opinions clearly vary about whether in fact he is any good. Internally maybe - out there in the world where his job really is?

Yep, the ones I have spoken to and who have been out with him have said he's good.

Likewise I've seen Liam Fox in meetings with foreign counterparts and he's been impressive.

But I suppose they're only doing their day jobs.

 

[Hobbit]

Gove I get and can go with. Johnson? - well as FS he does not seem to be involved in any significant policy initiatives that I am aware of - he is the diplomatic face of the UK and opinions clearly vary about whether in fact he is any good. Internally maybe - out there in the world where his job really is?

Iain Dale - respected Conservative; up front in the media; and strong advocate of Brexit has had enough of the FS and thinks 100% that he should be sacked. That he should express a '***k business' sentiment when questioned over the likes of concerns of Airbus and Siemens, and just dump any principles over Heathrow...well Dale has had enough - he calls him an embarrassment to the UK - not respected and a figure of fun across the globe.

And that not from me but from a prominent Tory Brexiteer.

Should Airbus and BMW have aired their concerns in public, thus potentially damaging the UK's negotiating position, or should they have requested a private meeting as the Japanese car manufacturers have done? Your own Constituency MP, Hunt, has been very critical of Airbus and BMW for this very reason.

For years people have complained about big business running the country, especially when the tories are in power, but are howling at the govt over Airbus, BMW et al.

Airbus want a decent transition period to do what they have been saying for years. They want to move the wing manufacturing from Deesside to Toulouse. And now they can lay the blame on the UK govt.

 

[MegaSteve]

I rather suspect many of BoJo's constituents will be giving him some grief with regard his Houdini act today...

 

[ColchesterFC]

Interestingly I've heard from colleagues in the Foreign Office that the dealings they've had with the Foreign Secretary have been very positive; and that he's actually good at his job.

Likewise my experiences with my Secretary of State - Gove - have also been positive; and the general consensus from my colleagues is that he's very much on top of his portfolio and doing a good job.

Incredulous isn't it?

Yep, the ones I have spoken to and who have been out with him have said he's good.

Likewise I've seen Liam Fox in meetings with foreign counterparts and he's been impressive.

But I suppose they're only doing their day jobs.

Will you please stop coming on here with your first hand knowledge of what's actually going on as it doesn't fit with some posters preferred preconceived ideas. It's not welcome and it's not helpful. To them. :thup:

 

[MegaSteve]

Will you please stop coming on here with your first hand knowledge of what's actually going on as it doesn't fit with some posters preferred preconceived ideas. It's not welcome and it's not helpful. To them. :thup:

With a greatly reduced majority, at the most recent GE, perhaps Boris could do with PieMan's help convincing his constituents about how good a job he is doing for them...

 

[Deleted member 1418]

With a greatly reduced majority, at the most recent GE, perhaps Boris could do with PieMan's help convincing his constituents about how good a job he is doing for them...

Interesting as his % share of the vote increased from 2015 GE. Granted only by 0.6% 😉😂😂

Looks like the biggest gains by Labour im his constituency were from UKIP and Greens.

The Heathrow decision may well have an effect at the next GE though, although a number of factors could also mean he increases his majority. A fickle game politics.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

With a greatly reduced majority, at the most recent GE, perhaps Boris could do with PieMan's help convincing his constituents about how good a job he is doing for them...

Indeed - clearly as Johnson and Fox are so brilliant and on top of their jobs their PR teams aren't doing a great job. Bit od though how some Tory MPs - who will clearly know Johnson pretty well - aren't so convinced.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Indeed - clearly as Johnson and Fox are so brilliant and on top of their jobs their PR teams aren't doing a great job. Bit od though how some Tory MPs - who will clearly know Johnson pretty well - aren't so convinced.

But that's party politics - totally different animal to their actual Ministerial jobs. I was just pointing out that they're actually respected by a good number of the Civil Servants who work for them on a day-to-day basis.

But should've remembered that wouldn't be good enough for you. Sorry for being an inconvenience to you and wasting time contributing to this thread. As you were.....😉👍

 

[MegaSteve]

Interesting as his % share of the vote increased from 2015 GE. Granted only by 0.6% 😉😂😂

Looks like the biggest gains by Labour im his constituency were from UKIP and Greens.

The Heathrow decision may well have an effect at the next GE though, although a number of factors could also mean he increases his majority. A fickle game politics.

Ah statistics... With a previous majority of about 10K reduced to about 5K iirc...

Not just the third runway that's a concern... Many feel let down over his handling of HS2...
And, as a prominent exiteer in a largely remain area it could get awkward...
As a mate commented... Can see why HoT were glad to see the back of him...

Previous incumbent was a highly respected local man with a genuine feel for the area/voters...
Then you get Boris who is none of the above...

Thankfully I no longer live in the constituency...
Tory HQ lumbered us with the son of a 'grandee'...
Marginally better than Boris, I suppose...

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Ah statistics... With a previous majority of about 10K reduced to about 5K iirc...

Not just the third runway that's a concern... Many feel let down over his handling of HS2...
And, as a prominent exiteer in a largely remain area it could get awkward...
As a mate commented... Can see why HoT were glad to see the back of him...

Previous incumbent was a highly respected local man with a genuine feel for the area/voters...
Then you get Boris who is none of the above...

Thankfully I no longer live in the constituency...
Tory HQ lumbered us with the son of a 'grandee'...
Marginally better than Boris, I suppose...

Yep - you can slant stats any way you like. At the end of the day he still had the numbers to be returned as the MP for the constituency; and a half-decent majority to take into the next election. But not for one minute ruling our another 'Portillo' moment when the time comes.

 

[MegaSteve]

Yep - you can slant stats any way you like. At the end of the day he still had the numbers to be returned as the MP for the constituency; and a half-decent majority to take into the next election. But not for one minute ruling our another 'Portillo' moment when the time comes.

As it was in the '60s the last time labour held the seat... Fair to say it would be one almighty turnaround for Boris to be shown the door... Which is why, I suppose, Tory HQ [against local wishes] 'gifted' him the seat..

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Of course all the debate about the FS happens simply because the PM is too weak to sack him - and sacked he would have been under any previous PM and in normal circumstances. That Johnson's self-interest is, to a large part, responsible for the abnormal and chaotic circumstances we find ourselves in is almost a footnote.

 

[hors limite]

Interestingly I've heard from colleagues in the Foreign Office that the dealings they've had with the Foreign Secretary have been very positive; and that he's actually good at his job.

Likewise my experiences with my Secretary of State - Gove - have also been positive; and the general consensus from my colleagues is that he's very much on top of his portfolio and doing a good job.

Incredulous isn't it?

If he was some backroom technocrat, we might give some credibility to your Whitehall chums evaluation. However, his job has a high profile and he represents the UK at the highest level on the world stage and it is in this key area where is performance has been abysmal. Incidentally, did your chums find any polyps when they were up there?

 

[Deleted member 1418]

If he was some backroom technocrat, we might give some credibility to your Whitehall chums evaluation. However, his job has a high profile and he represents the UK at the highest level on the world stage and it is in this key area where is performance has been abysmal. Incidentally, did your chums find any polyps when they were up there?

What are you going on about? I've already told you that people who've been with him have been impressed with him in his role as FS!

But of course if you know better and have actually been with him in his official capacity then fair play.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

What are you going on about? I've already told you that people who've been with him have been impressed with him in his role as FS!

But of course if you know better and have actually been with him in his official capacity then fair play.

Point is that whilst he might seem to be on top of the job when 'in-house' - when he is actually out there doing the job where it really matters, he is just an embarrassment and liability - and almost a 'figure of fun' for the world's diplomats and leaders. And we don't need a FoF as a FS.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Point is that whilst he might seem to be on top of the job when 'in-house' - when he is actually out there doing the job where it really matters, he is just an embarrassment and liability - and almost a 'figure of fun' for the world's diplomats and leaders. And we don't need a FoF as a FS.

But as I've been trying to get across - obviously not well enough - when he's behind closed doors - even when abroad and in his role as FS - he's very good. Blimey thought everyone was well aware that you shouldn't believe everything you read/see in the media!!

I appreciate that there's a number of you on here who don't want to believe that, but to say he's a figure of fun and not capable on the world stage is just not accurate. But hey, that's only what I've been told from colleagues who have been working with him since he was appointed.

As I said, if anyone knows different - like actually being in meetings with him at these international events - then happy to stand corrected.

 

[gmc40]

But as I've been trying to get across - obviously not well enough - when he's behind closed doors - even when abroad and in his role as FS - he's very good. Blimey thought everyone was well aware that you shouldn't believe everything you read/see in the media!!

I appreciate that there's a number of you on here who don't want to believe that, but to say he's a figure of fun and not capable on the world stage is just not accurate. But hey, that's only what I've been told from colleagues who have been working with him since he was appointed.

As I said, if anyone knows different - like actually being in meetings with him at these international events - then happy to stand corrected.

If he is as great behind closed doors as your chums say, could you possibly ask them to have a word with him about his public persona? Comes across as a two faced snivelling coward in the media. I suppose him having to run out of the HoC before being asked a difficult question or having to leave the country before a key vote are just unfortunate coincidences??

 

[ColchesterFC]

If he is as great behind closed doors as your chums say, could you possibly ask them to have a word with him about his public persona? Comes across as a two faced snivelling coward in the media. I suppose him having to run out of the HoC before being asked a difficult question or having to leave the country before a key vote are just unfortunate coincidences??

Is it possible that his important trip to Afghanistan was sanctioned/encouraged/arranged by Theresa May to avoid any possible problems with the vote over Heathrow? I don't think May's position is a strong one, so to make sure BJ was out of the country for a key vote he opposed, might have meant that she avoided having to make a tough decision.