So, Michael Howard has taken it upon himself to sack Boris Johnson from his front bench in light of allegations over his private life - he is supposed to have had an affair, and is denying it, and the reasoning behind his sacking is that by denying it he is lying and should therefore be sacked. Personally, I think this is a mistake - Boris is a popular (outside of Liverpool...) MP who is able to entertain people, mainly by just being him. I enjoy reading his articles in the Telegraph and have found him amusing when presenting 'Have I Got News For You'.

Mistake, showing once again that not only have the tories not got their finger on the pulse, but they have it shoved right up their ass.... one of the few tories that actually seemed to have a sense of humour and a human side... i can see why he didn't fit in. I don't agree with a lot of what he said, but at least he seemed like a nice person.

Originally posted by t020
So, Michael Howard has taken it upon himself to sack Boris Johnson from his front bench in light of allegations over his private life - he is supposed to have had an affair, and is denying it, and the reasoning behind his sacking is that by denying it he is lying and should therefore be sacked. Personally, I think this is a mistake - Boris is a popular (outside of Liverpool...) MP who is able to entertain people, mainly by just being him. I enjoy reading his articles in the Telegraph and have found him amusing when presenting 'Have I Got News For You'.

Ah yes, I found Boris' presentation (in the last series) of HIGNFY side-splitting - Paul and Ian were running rings round him (!)

Alex

I'd much rather have a politician who went round having affairs than one who had his hand in the pot.

At the end of the day though, he asked for it. A fool just like Archer but more charismatic.

I doubt this will be the end of Boris' political career though. He may have to endure a few years on the back benches but when he's older I can imagine him having a very prominent position in the party, possibly even the leader.

Even as a committed Labour voter I really like Boris. He's wonderfully eccentric and very funny. He's great on HIGNFY where he plays the confused, lovable buffoon to a tee.

I hope he'll be back.

I think he should have been sacked over his comments about Liverpool.

Isn't that what all MPs are supposed to do lie about there affairs and worse in some cases? I think Boris is the only tory MP who has not been stuffed (taxidermy sense). It is probaly because of his Liverpool comments which most people on this forum seemed to agree with.

Poor old Borris - still as an MP with personality it was obvious he was never going to fit in...

Can't wait to see him on HIGNFY again now he has a bit more spare time.

I think that Michael Howard was desperate to get rid of him, and this was the first half decent excuse to do it. Surely otherwise Michael Howard would not want it to look like he had been pushed around by a newspaper.

I think his motives are that Boris Johnson was tipped as a future leader and Michael Howard wanted to damage a potential rival - I think that is all there is to it.

Much as I enjoy Boris, as a future leader that would be fun.

He's one of very few politicians who's actually vaguely interesting to read about. Have they proved he's had an affair? Anyway, it's not like our PM would ever lie, oh no...

Originally posted by SilentStatic
He's one of very few politicians who's actually vaguely interesting to read about.

I'm no fan of the Tories, but Boris is one of those larger-than-life, roguishly-lovable characters in the manner of Alan Clarke that dull British politics so desperately needs.

Boris has added some colour and charisma to politics, and seems to be one of the few politicians the British public actually like. The fact he's a Tory is almost irrelevant. For all his faults, as a politician he's a lot more accessible than most, and so I think overall he's a good thing for British politics. At least he generates interest!

I'm certain he'll be back in a prominent position in a couple of years, if not sooner.

StarSparkle

Originally posted by t020
I doubt this will be the end of Boris' political career though. He may have to endure a few years on the back benches but when he's older I can imagine him having a very prominent position in the party, possibly even the leader. Oh dear, I hope your wrong there T020, he is a decent bloke but leader, I doubt it.

It just shows us how out of touch the tories are. If Johnson was leader it would probably the best chance they have getting back into power int he next 10 years.

Same thing happened with Ken Clarke - a popular tory (if that aint an oxymoron?) but the party voted to make Hague (IIRC?????) leader over him.

Ah well if it keeps em out of downing st then its all good.

Mat :thumbsup:

There have been a series of comments today to the effect that Howard shouldn't have asked the question. And, in political terms, he shouldn't have done unless he was determined to get rid of Boris. Which I believe he wanted to do.

I've followed Boris Johnson's career for a while now and whilst no supporter of the Tories have to agree with StarSparkle in that, like Alan Clarke, he's a character in a world of increasingly bland politicians.

Boris has adopted a persona of lovable buffoon which I believe hides quite a shrewd mind. The Liverpool comment was a little ill-advised, but the reaction he received was totally over the top. However, Boris rather left himself open to being hammered with Liverpool and lying over his relationship.

I expect to see him back; give him two or three years and we'll see him back on the Tory front bench. Leader, though? I doubt it. I like the guy but unless he sharpens up his act and shows better judgement he'll never get the top job.

Joe

Boris' website is unable to cope with all the traffic, I wonder if this is about to backfire on Howard (or Boris).

To be fair to Boris, the comments made in the paper about Liverpool were not made by him personaly, but as the paper's editor, he took the flack.