What a bumbling perfomance!

[Bryn]

They'd have to do more than whistle in my case - I don't have the right kind of phone.

I do have such a phone, two, actually, but have no intention of downloading the app when it is eventually launched. Never mind Huawei, it's this spy app that I will avoid. I will, however, continue to observe 'social distancing' and related safety measures.

[Count Boso]

I actually tried to find the "guidelines" which it is claimed that DC followed - though this was in contradiction to the letter that BJ had sent out to all households. I spent some time looking through web pages from the government web site. No sign of them - so is there something wrong with my internet? I know that Mr GG thinks so, but seriously, I could not find anything which matched what we hae been told in the last few days. There are/were very explicit instructions to not leave home, not to travel etc., all of which, either I missed completely, or Mr DC is incapable of reading, understanding and acting upon, unlike the great majority of the British public, who are obviously so stupid that they actually did what was suggested to them in the PM's letter.

I don't think Cummings was clear as to the precise guidelines that he was following, but even the more relaxed regulations are clear that you cannot travel to a holiday/second home or stay in any home but your own.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do#when-am-i-allowed-to-leave-the-house

[Barbirollians]

I don't think Cummings was clear as to the precise guidelines that he was following, but even the more relaxed regulations are clear that you cannot travel to a holiday/second home or stay in any home but your own.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...eave-the-house

Johnson was unaware of his own government’s laws that leave certain people with no recourse to public funds as he suggested to Stephen Timms that they would be eligible for universal credit - erm no that is a public fund.

[oddoneout]

I actually tried to find the "guidelines" which it is claimed that DC followed - though this was in contradiction to the letter that BJ had sent out to all households. I spent some time looking through web pages from the government web site. No sign of them - so is there something wrong with my internet? I know that Mr GG thinks so, but seriously, I could not find anything which matched what we hae been told in the last few days. There are/were very explicit instructions to not leave home, not to travel etc., all of which, either I missed completely, or Mr DC is incapable of reading, understanding and acting upon, unlike the great majority of the British public, who are obviously so stupid that they actually did what was suggested to them in the PM's letter.

I think the third bullet point under 'Staying at Home' is the one that may have been invoked, as that is the one intended to help domestic abuse victims and so drew criticism from those working in that field.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/883116/Staying_at_home_and_away_from_others__social_distancing_.pdf

However his actions are in direct contravention of these guidelines https://www.gov.uk/government/public...d-19-infection even in their latest - updated today form
However,as always, truth and integrity are another country for the likes of Cummings.

[kernelbogey]

Both these Guardian pieces IMV are worth reading:
Martin Kettle,
and
John Crace.

John mentions BJ frequently looking off to the right: it's satirical writing, but it could just be possible that DC was in the room (with flash cards! ).

[LMcD]

Both these Guardian pieces IMV are worth reading:
Martin Kettle,
and
John Crace.
John mentions BJ frequently looking off to the right: it's satirical writing, but it could just be possible that DC was in the room (with flash cards! ).

Perhaps BJ has undergone a procedure which makes it impossible for him to (a) look people straight in the eyes and/or (b) turn his neck to the left.

[Dave2002]

Perhaps BJ has undergone a procedure which makes it impossible for him to (a) look people straight in the eyes and/or (b) turn his neck to the left.

The link to John Grace’s article leads to a 404.

[kernelbogey]

The link to John Grace’s article leads to a 404.

Thanks & apologies: I usually check. Now corrected!

[LMcD]

Thanks & apologies: I usually check. Now corrected!

Or you can google 'John Crace (not 'Grace') today' (registration is free). Your link still doesn't seem to be working.

[Count Boso]

Both these Guardian pieces IMV are worth reading:
Martin Kettle,
and
John Crace.

And many thanks to Martin Kettle. I'm already a fan of Brewdog's Punk IPA (Post Modern Classic): now we have the Barnard Castle Eye Test which should be quite tasty:

https://www.brewdog.com/uk/barnard-castle-eye-test

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well, or course it was a bumbling performance, but it must have been difficult for him, constantly glancing to his right to be guided by his prompter (now fully rested following his holiday in Barnard Castle).

[Bryn]

Both these Guardian pieces IMV are worth reading:
Martin Kettle,
and
John Crace.

John mentions BJ frequently looking off to the right: it's satirical writing, but it could just be possible that DC was in the room (with flash cards! ).

No. I do not buy the Crace viewpoint. The bumbling performance is just that, a performance. Johnson is not the incompetent fool he wants us to believe him to be. Uncaring, a thug, dissembling, . . . for sure, but he knows his game and plays it skillfully. Never mind Cummings, it's Johnson we most need shot of.

[MrGongGong]

No. I do not buy the Crace viewpoint. The bumbling performance is just that, a performance. Johnson is not the incompetent fool he wants us to believe him to be. Uncaring, a thug, dissembling, . . . for sure, but he knows his game and plays it skillfully. Never mind Cummings, it's Johnson we most need shot of.

We really do need more Theatre Studies in the UK

The inability of people not to see when they are watching a piece of theatre is extraordinary.

None of it IMV is anything else, even the "mistakes" are there deliberately.... as mr Lydon put it so well

[Count Boso]

No. I do not buy the Crace viewpoint. The bumbling performance is just that, a performance. Johnson is not the incompetent fool he wants us to believe him to be. Uncaring, a thug, dissembling, . . . for sure, but he knows his game and plays it skillfully. Never mind Cummings, it's Johnson we most need shot of.

I think it's a double bluff. He knows the bumbling, blustering performance is effective in that it doesn't require him to be accountable, to answer questions. In some cases he doesn't know the answers (anything to do with facts and detail), in others he doesn't want to give answers and the two are happily conflated in all the bumbling. That doesn't mean he isn't incompetent. He plays the same game as Cummings who knows damn fine that claiming to have driven for 60 miles to test his eyesight is ridiculous and incredible. But in the end, he isn't forgiven just because it makes people laugh. And Johnson isn't forgiven for his 'Boris is Boris' performance.

Though getting rid of Johnson would have the added benefit of getting rid of Cummings too, I suppose.

[gurnemanz]

The calculatedly unkempt hair is a part of the show.