Boris

[liadnan]

The commenters on the most recent post on Boris' blog have been quick in sympathising with his departure from the Conservative front bench.

Foolish move on Howard's part I reckon. Also just wrong: I live in hope that one day when some sex scandal breaks about a politician their party will quite properly shrug and point out that it's irrelevant.

Just back from seeing Hero with Katy and Joff. Very good, though not quite as impressive as Crouching Tiger, and slightly marred by the blatant totalitarian sub-text (I may be slow, but I didn't notice a subversive sub-sub-text).

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hypatia_/]

Alas poor Boris, he knew her well.

Its a risky (shadow)cabinet post it seems, but at least this time it isn't in the middle of a 'back to basics' campaign. Hopefully Boris won't be foolish enough to parade his children before the cameras.
Its not relevant so long as they are not a spokesperson for a party whose policy is directly against the actions they have taken. Personally I'd regard it as contributing to Michael Howard's ticket to four more years in opposition.

[liadnan]

I'd agree with all that. Boris is, I think, a huge asset for two reasons. The more minor one is that I continue to believe that under the deliberately constructed persona there's a really good political brain. The more important one is that he, and to a lesser extent Letwin, are the Last Best Hope of the Tories to show a more relaxed and more liberal side, and, frankly, that they have a sense of humour,

[eccles.livejournal.com]

quite properly shrug and point out that it's irrelevant

Paddy "pants down" Ashdown

[liadnan]

He'd been kicked upstairs by then, no?

[etherealfionna.livejournal.com]

Look up what happened to Emmett Stag (sp?) if you want to see a shrugged off sex scandal. Or, an example of government manipulation of the media, depending on your political point of view.

And what I read in the news suggested that it was lying rather than having an affair that led to Johnson's being fired. Or to be even more specific, being proven to have lied.

[liadnan]

I don't believe that, to be honest.

[frankie-ecap.livejournal.com]

Can't decide how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Michael H embarrassed (good) and Tories in increasing disarray (good). On the other hand, politics slightly less interesting (bad). However, it has reminded me that much as I enjoy both reading Boris and reading about Boris, I'd hate it if he were in charge.

Re your 'I live in hope' - isn't that pretty much what Blunkett did? Not that he's necessarily the role model of your dreams.

[liadnan]

I'd forgotten Blunkett (who I loathe and despise possibly more than any other British politician of my lifetime, Margaret Hilda T and Anthony Charles Lynton B included).

I don't think Boris would ever really be in charge of the party. As a minister I think hbe'd be fine.

Also, I'd rather the Tories won the next election than New Labour did. In an ideal world, I'd rather a liberal government, but I don't see it this time.

[frankie-ecap.livejournal.com]

I must admit I've rather forgotten why I don't want a conservative victory. It used to be about all those Home Secretary-related things.

On another note, from the boriswatch website: Famously disorganised, Boris once explained the lateness of his work by claiming that "dark forces dragged me away from the keyboard, swirling forces of irresistible intensity and power"

For this, one can forgive quite a bit.