This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/23/a-new-prime-minister-is-forced-upon-us
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| A new prime minister is forced upon us | A new prime minister is forced upon us |
| (1 day later) | |
| Please can someone tell me that I’m not mad, and that this really is happening (Boris Johnson elected new Tory leader, theguardian.com, 23 July). The UK claims to be a democracy. Our next prime minister has just been chosen by the 92,153 members of the Conservative and Unionist party, who voted for Boris Johnson. The UK electorate numbers 45,775,800 voters. The UK population stands at 66,961,230. So about 0.14% of the population have, in effect, selected Johnson. In other words, 99.86% of the population had no say whatsoever in this matter. That, apparently, is how our democracy works. I’ve just one question: how different would the process have been if the UK weren’t a democracy?Emeritus Professor Chris WalshHawarden, Flintshire | |
| • We seem to have moved from the ridiculous to the malign; from wheat fields and egoic rigidity to thuggery, serial public infidelity and pathological dishonesty. Much is made of a dubious “cleverness” or intelligence, but it is wisdom that leadership depends on. Aside from his politics, instinctively to the right of the Conservative party and without conviction, and appearing to represent little more than the self-justification of privilege, Mr Johnson is not suitable for high office.Dr Franz Schembri WismayerDunkerton, Bath | • We seem to have moved from the ridiculous to the malign; from wheat fields and egoic rigidity to thuggery, serial public infidelity and pathological dishonesty. Much is made of a dubious “cleverness” or intelligence, but it is wisdom that leadership depends on. Aside from his politics, instinctively to the right of the Conservative party and without conviction, and appearing to represent little more than the self-justification of privilege, Mr Johnson is not suitable for high office.Dr Franz Schembri WismayerDunkerton, Bath |
| • On the morning of the result of the Brexit vote three years ago, the French newspaper Libération, published a full front page showing the familiar photo of Boris Johnson dangling helplessly from a zipwire waving two union flags, under the headline “Good luck”. With Johnson, as ensconced in No 10, Britain is going to need a lot more than luck.Stefan SimanowitzLondon | • On the morning of the result of the Brexit vote three years ago, the French newspaper Libération, published a full front page showing the familiar photo of Boris Johnson dangling helplessly from a zipwire waving two union flags, under the headline “Good luck”. With Johnson, as ensconced in No 10, Britain is going to need a lot more than luck.Stefan SimanowitzLondon |
| • Family members and close friends refer to our next prime minister as Al for the simple reason that his first name is Alexander and Boris is a persona he has adopted for public consumption. I wonder if he will be tempted to extend the hand of friendship to the Queen when they meet at the palace: “I can call you Betty. And Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al.” (With apologies to Paul Simon.)Mike PenderCardiff | • Family members and close friends refer to our next prime minister as Al for the simple reason that his first name is Alexander and Boris is a persona he has adopted for public consumption. I wonder if he will be tempted to extend the hand of friendship to the Queen when they meet at the palace: “I can call you Betty. And Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al.” (With apologies to Paul Simon.)Mike PenderCardiff |
| • I have just been to the newsagent’s where I read the Daily Telegraph’s headline, “Fantasist whose lies should never have been believed”, and for one delirious moment I thought the paper had had a last-minute conversion to sanity on Boris Johnson’s unicorn world. Of course, it referred to the other damaged fantasist in the news.Paul WrightKing’s Lynn, Norfolk | • I have just been to the newsagent’s where I read the Daily Telegraph’s headline, “Fantasist whose lies should never have been believed”, and for one delirious moment I thought the paper had had a last-minute conversion to sanity on Boris Johnson’s unicorn world. Of course, it referred to the other damaged fantasist in the news.Paul WrightKing’s Lynn, Norfolk |
| • We should spare a sympathetic thought for the talented and honourable officials in No 10 and the Cabinet Office who now find themselves obliged to work for Johnson (Tory rebels warn Johnson: ditch no deal or face fight for survival, 23 July). They may have dealt before with egocentricity, mendacity or unreliability as one-offs, but never when all three are characteristic of the same prime minister.Robin WendtChester | • We should spare a sympathetic thought for the talented and honourable officials in No 10 and the Cabinet Office who now find themselves obliged to work for Johnson (Tory rebels warn Johnson: ditch no deal or face fight for survival, 23 July). They may have dealt before with egocentricity, mendacity or unreliability as one-offs, but never when all three are characteristic of the same prime minister.Robin WendtChester |
| • As a teacher of history I have always tried to show my pupils that in all leaders and historical figures there is a balance of good and less good qualities in all of them. Are there any qualities that Mr Johnson displays that I should urge my grandchildren to emulate?Nigel ReynoldsHaxby, North Yorkshire | • As a teacher of history I have always tried to show my pupils that in all leaders and historical figures there is a balance of good and less good qualities in all of them. Are there any qualities that Mr Johnson displays that I should urge my grandchildren to emulate?Nigel ReynoldsHaxby, North Yorkshire |
| • May I remind Mr Johnson that all political careers end in failure and that he should consider resigning while he is ahead.Steve OakesAbingdon, Oxfordshire | • May I remind Mr Johnson that all political careers end in failure and that he should consider resigning while he is ahead.Steve OakesAbingdon, Oxfordshire |
| • To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Malvolio: “Some have idiots thrust upon them.” At least the American electorate voted in their own idiot. Maureen TranterSheffield | • To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Malvolio: “Some have idiots thrust upon them.” At least the American electorate voted in their own idiot. Maureen TranterSheffield |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition | • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition |
| • The first letter was amended on 24 July 2019. The 92,153 Conservative and Unionist party members who voted for Boris Johnson represent approximately 0.14% of the UK population, not 0.001% as an earlier version said, meaning that about 99.86% of the population, not 99.999%, had no say in that matter. This has been corrected. | |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| Conservative leadership | Conservative leadership |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| Article 50 | Article 50 |
| European Union | European Union |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| letters | letters |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |
Previous version
1
Next version