Discussion
So the dolt does something that did not surprise anyone. The only remarkable thing is that it has taken him this long.
Regardless of what one thinks of Saudi Arabia, Johnson undermined the government by mouthing off.
Still, the blame lies with May for awarding one of the great offices of state to someone whose skills set doesn't include considering what he will do or say.
Then there was that scatterbrain Truss who was made Lord Chancellor! When first tested, over the attacks on the appeal court, she failed miserably. Again, May is to blame for putting someone totally unsuited into the very complex and difficult role.
One hopes that May did a better job with Davies and Fox, but somehow I don't think she did.
Regardless of what one thinks of Saudi Arabia, Johnson undermined the government by mouthing off.
Still, the blame lies with May for awarding one of the great offices of state to someone whose skills set doesn't include considering what he will do or say.
Then there was that scatterbrain Truss who was made Lord Chancellor! When first tested, over the attacks on the appeal court, she failed miserably. Again, May is to blame for putting someone totally unsuited into the very complex and difficult role.
One hopes that May did a better job with Davies and Fox, but somehow I don't think she did.
When you consider the pool in which May she was fishing.... I give her more credit, her statements lately (if serious) are basically a condemnation of what went before in successive governments. Could be that she has finally got a job she can do, she has a talent for putting cats among pigeons. She certainly isn't fazed by pompous bombast from EU officials, to mention nothing of EU leaders.
One statement from yesterday (among others) lambasted the civil service:
"...there is a tendency in the system to try to interpret what they think you want, and to deliver that. Instead, it should be civil servants' duty to speak their mind. From the officials' point of view, what they owe to the Minister, and what the Minister expects, is the best possible advice. Don't try to tell me what you think I want to hear. I want your advice, I want the options. Then politicians can make the decisions". Quite refreshing I thought.
One statement from yesterday (among others) lambasted the civil service:
"...there is a tendency in the system to try to interpret what they think you want, and to deliver that. Instead, it should be civil servants' duty to speak their mind. From the officials' point of view, what they owe to the Minister, and what the Minister expects, is the best possible advice. Don't try to tell me what you think I want to hear. I want your advice, I want the options. Then politicians can make the decisions". Quite refreshing I thought.
Edited by Thorodin on Thursday 8th December 21:15
Thorodin said:
When you consider the pool in which May she was fishing.... I give her more credit, her statements lately (if serious) are basically a condemnation of what went before in successive governments. Could be that she has finally got a job she can do, she has a talent for putting cats among pigeons. She certainly isn't fazed by pompous bombast from EU officials, to mention nothing of EU leaders.
One statement from yesterday (among others) lambasted the civil service:
"...there is a tendency in the system to try to interpret what they think you want, and to deliver that. Instead, it should be civil servants' duty to speak their mind. From the officials' point of view, what they owe to the Minister, and what the Minister expects, is the best possible advice. Don't try to tell me what you think I want to hear. I want your advice, I want the options. Then politicians can make the decisions". Quite refreshing I thought.
I'm not sure she's actually done anything, apart from promoting people. Talk is cheap. I'd love to know the conditions that Nissan were awarded for staying here. One statement from yesterday (among others) lambasted the civil service:
"...there is a tendency in the system to try to interpret what they think you want, and to deliver that. Instead, it should be civil servants' duty to speak their mind. From the officials' point of view, what they owe to the Minister, and what the Minister expects, is the best possible advice. Don't try to tell me what you think I want to hear. I want your advice, I want the options. Then politicians can make the decisions". Quite refreshing I thought.
Edited by Thorodin on Thursday 8th December 21:15
The choice of Truss, Johnson and Fox, now that's not what I'd call a win treble, was shocking. If, as you seem to suggest if I'm reading your post correctly, that's the best of those available then it paints a sorry picture of the tory party. But I don't think it is.
I've got little time for Gove but, after many failures, he seemed to be doing something positive in the role of Lord Chancellor. I accept he spoke more than did, but what he said was positive. I remember thinking that he'd found a square hole. Sack Gove, replace with Truss for the senior lawyering post. When one thinks of the predecessors in the post . . . words fail me. Hailsham, Straw, Clark, even Grayling, although he suffers in this list more than a little. But TRUSS!
What is also worrying is that we will need a foreign secretary who is respected and can be trusted. Subtlety is an essential, with more than a little deviousness. Cunning but with a global mind. I accept we haven't had too many of them of late, but Johnson is a buffoon.
Fox is part of a duo that is in charge of vital negotiations, ones which will set us on a course for some years to come. Let's not forget that Fox resigned as defence secretary for - let's be nice about it - a certain lack of judgement. Is that the CV of someone whose judgement might have major effects on the country as a whole?
If May is a shrewd and clever as some suggest, then this is some way of showing it.
Willy Nilly said:
I have just read what the BBC is reporting on this subject and don't see an issue.
Foreign secretary makes statements about another country. Prime minister distances the government from the foreign secretary. Bit unusual isn't it? Sounds a bit like Boris is a bit alone in the cold.
El stovey said:
Willy Nilly said:
I have just read what the BBC is reporting on this subject and don't see an issue.
Foreign secretary makes statements about another country. Prime minister distances the government from the foreign secretary. Bit unusual isn't it? Sounds a bit like Boris is a bit alone in the cold.
When Theresa May eventually fires him for being a liability, nobody is going to be looking for some kind of Brexit subtext any more, and I have a feeling that might have been the point of his appointment. With the Foreign Office effectively split into three it was a much less powerful role than it had been previously.
MG CHRIS said:
Just watching the bbc now and what he said is true, funny thought we wanted our mps to speak there own mind, and tbh he was right. Saudi are a real issue in the middle east but people or media wont and don't see it.
Or, unlike Boris, they are all simply too fearful to even utter anything like it. Too much money at stake from all the arms etc that we sell them. It's that simple.
If we couldn't sell them anything, they'd be condemned on a daily basis.
Probably more than the condemnation that both Russia and Syria get together!
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
He's completely right of course. They're a truly evil nation.
But he didn't say that - nor did he single Saudi out - he referred to other countries fighting 'proxy wars' and wants them to show some stronger governance to bring the different strands of pixie worship together.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff