[Kaiserschmarrn]

But that's victim blaming, @Beren.

[B0ycey]

Just don't pretend to be a neutral observer. Nobody in this thread is actually worried about his girlfriend.

Why would I pretend to be neutral? To have an opinion is biased. Although it would be nice to have assurances and as of yet they are not given. Should Carrie come out tomorrow and claim abuse, should we ignore it because it is Johnson? If not then at least quash it now. Although really the only reason no one is worried for her is because nobody questions abuse. But the evidence does imply encroachment and that cannot be denied. And as I said, Johnson is fortunate here as no one does question it.

[noemon]

The fight to become the next leader of the Conservative Party and our next prime minister has only two contestants left standing: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. Clearly neither are fit to lead the country but as only the Tory membership are able to vote the rest of us have to sit in horror as this car crash plays out in slow motion.

Many think that Jeremy Hunt is the better of the candidates and this is because they don’t know anything about him. He attended Charterhouse School, an institution that has churned out so many Tories that OFSTED have grounds on which to close it down. He has boasted about his stable family life compared to that of his rival, but also had no idea until recently that his wife was from China not Japan.

And then we have his rival Boris Johnson. A man so deep that when you scratch the surface you reveal… more surface. We don’t even know exactly how many children Johnson has. Whether this is because he’d rather not say or simply cause he doesn’t know himself is unclear.

Dubbed the English Donald Trump – the US president has been very vocal in throwing his support behind Johnson – this doesn’t seem to be putting off the Tory party members whose votes could put him into Number 10. Any racist, homophobic, sexist or Islamophobic comments never stick (or the Tory members just don’t care). The man seems to be made of Teflon.

His recent “domestic dispute” with his 31-year-old girlfriend Carrie Symonds had right wing columnists rushing to his defence, blaming everyone from his pro-EU neighbours that called the police to Ms Symonds herself. So what is attracting the Tory Party membership to the bigoted Boris Johnson? Maybe we need to look how closely their views align with his.

Half of Tory members believe that we need to reduce the number of Muslims coming to the country. Two thirds of them believe there are areas of the UK that operate under sharia law and many believe in the myth of no go zones where non-Muslims are not able to enter. I think they have confused “not able to” with “wouldn’t ever want to”.

For some reason I can’t imagine an old, white little Englander wanting to visit Small Heath in Birmingham. In fact the only time I’ve known a white person visit was Katie Hopkins who went there and made a video bemoaning the lack of white faces. What she ended up doing was unintentionally making a very strong argument for the niqab.

Over half also said they would not like to see a Muslim prime minister. Sajid Javid’s only chance of becoming leader of the Conservative Party would have been to deport himself and lead the country from Pakistan using Skype.

For those of you like myself that are terrified about how unperturbed the Conservative Party membership seem by Johnson’s misdemeanours, I have an idea. We should embrace him wholeheartedly. Hear me out!

Black people, gay people, Muslims: let’s make Boris our idol. The more we claim to love him, the more disgust it will induce in the Tory membership. He will lose their support in droves. White flight from the Tory party - just imagine.

We’ve missed a few tricks recently. We should have made Boris the figurehead for the first ever Windrush Day and every Iftar table during Ramadan should have had a cardboard cut out of Boris at the head of the table. The photos should have been posted on social media horrifying every Tory in the country.

But we still have time before the final vote on 22 July. There is gay Pride in London next week and Boris should be appointed as its Grand Marshal. After forcing him to inhale poppers he can give the closing speech announcing a new Bank Holiday – “Gay Day” – where we all have to sleep with someone of the same sex to promote understanding.

Boris has boasted about his Muslim great grandfather. We need to find more of his descendants and have them claim that if Boris gets the keys to Number 10 they shall seek asylum in the UK and move into Downing Street with him. We need to leak to the press that the reason for his new, smarter look is not his young girlfriend but his newfound vegan diet inspired by none other than Jeremy Corbyn.

Boris needs to have another affair but with the right kind of woman. A black one. Preferably a Muslim one. We could place “Your Country Needs You” posters around black hairdressing shops. It is becoming clear that before the Tories walk us all off a precipice, we need to do everything in our power to stop them. Even if it means loving Boris as much as they do.

Independent

The bold really made me giggle. We indeed do not know how many children Boris has or with how many women. If you got to the wikipedia page you see this:

In 1987, he married Allegra Mostyn-Owen, the daughter of the art historian William Mostyn-Owen and the Italian writer Gaia Servadio;[480] the marriage was dissolved in 1993.[481][clarification needed] A couple of weeks later he married Marina Wheeler, a barrister and daughter of journalist and broadcaster Charles Wheeler and his wife, Dip Singh; five weeks later, Wheeler and Johnson's first child was born.[482][483] The Wheeler and Johnson families have known each other for decades,[484] and Marina Wheeler was at the European School in Brussels at the same time as her future husband. They have four children: two daughters and two sons.[485]

In 2009, Johnson fathered a daughter with Helen MacIntyre, an arts consultant. The child's existence was the subject of legal action in 2013 with the Court of Appeal quashing an injunction seeking to ban reporting of her existence; the judge ruled that the public had a right to know about Johnson's "reckless" behaviour.[486][487][488]

In September 2018, Johnson and Wheeler issued a statement confirming that after 25 years of marriage they had separated "several months ago", and had begun the process of getting divorced.[2]

Johnson's current girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, is the daughter of Matthew Symonds, co-founder of The Independent, and Josephine Mcaffee, a lawyer.[489]

In June 2019, Johnson revealed that he paints wooden crates to resemble buses as a hobby.[490]

Johnson has also repeatedly used his Turkish family heritage to justify his support for Turkey and for Turkish EU membership.

[Kaiserschmarrn]

Why would I pretend to be neutral? To have an opinion is biased.

The feigned concern is just too obvious.

[Beren]

Should Carrie come out tomorrow and claim abuse, should we ignore it because it is Johnson?

Do you expect her to do so? If she doesn't do so, why not? There was a row between them, but it doesn't mean abuse also happened. Carrie Symonds must have had enough of hiding and not being supposed to appear with Johnson publicly like he's a single man. Maybe BoJo also promised to marry her, which has been procrastinated for a while too I guess, which also must be frustrating her, if true, so she burst out and it became a row. Johnson has a reckless child-like personality perhaps, which makes him unfit for PM, but I don't think he's a brute, and Symonds is not just a common girl he randomly picked somewhere and could be abused by her partner without any consequences.

[Kaiserschmarrn]

Had Symonds made an accusation against him, it would obviously dramatically alter the picture. She hasn't and we can safely assume that it is not for lack of trying by the media to get a statement to that effect from her.

The police were there, spoke to Symonds and Johnson, established that both were fine and then phoned the neighbours to tell them that nothing was wrong. After this, the neighbours ran to the Guardian with their tape and the Guardian decided to publish extracts, with the result that the woman they claim to be so concerned about, who if we believe them might well be a victim of domestic violence, doesn't want to go back to her home because it is beleaguered by idiots.

[B0ycey]

Do you expect her to do so? If she doesn't do so, why not? There was a row between them, but it doesn't mean abuse also happened...

And if she doesn't, what happened remains a mystery. Although the point was not that abuse happened but what the evidence suggests FYI. Which is why this should have been clarified. Although if the news outlets don't press the issue I suppose there isn't a need to and Johnson gets away unscathed.

The feigned concern is just too obvious.

My only concern is that Johnson could be the next prime minister and is incompetent. The fact he refuses to answer simple questions to kill a story is evidence enough of how useless he is. If Carrie wants my concern she should speak out. Although that doesn't stop me wishing the press continues to hound Johnson on asking what happened the other day just to piss him off. :

Had Symonds made an accusation against him, it would obviously dramatically alter the picture. She hasn't and we can safely assume that it is not for lack of trying by the media to get a statement to that effect from her.

The media haven't tried to extract anything from her. Nor Johnson as it happens. They simply ran a story because the story now is him refusing to answer a simple question. When they asked for what happened, perhaps they would have walked away with a simple extract being 'we fought over red wine on a coach' or what not was given during the hustings. Only I have questioned the 'get off me' and 'get out of my flat' shout on here and perhaps if the aim from the media was to ruin Johnsons leadership campaign they should have done likewise.

The police were there, spoke to Symonds and Johnson, established that both were fine and then phoned the neighbours to tell them that nothing was wrong. After this, the neighbours ran to the Guardian with their tape and the Guardian decided to publish extracts, with the result that the woman they claim to be so concerned about, who if we believe them might well be a victim of domestic violence, doesn't want to go back to her home because it is beleaguered by idiots.

I commend the couple for doing the right thing and bringing Johnsons character into account.

Under the spotlight during a campaign you should expect an opposition to stain your character BTW.

As for the police, without testimony they couldn't proceed FYI. Perhaps they saw it was Johnson and also thought nothing of it. Do you think someone who is abused and is in love wouldn't lie to the police in the presence of their abuser anyway? Not that this matters. The point is, as the media did pursue this perhaps kill the story before anyone questions the event with vigor if it was indeed a nothing event - if anything just to stop it from being news worthy. And Carrie. If she was abused, wouldn't it be fantastic if she spoke and ended Johnson career to save the UK from humiliation... just saying.

[Beren]

And if she doesn't, what happened remains a mystery.

It remains a wild row then.

Something like this perhaps, although wilder and longer.

Also, Johnson won't talk about it because talking about it would hurt him anyway.

If Symonds was abused, let her talk and take legal action, although I'd rather believe Johnson smashed a sofa, not her.

[ingliz]

Johnson

Thank God, I don't have to live in the UK.

Hobbies...

If "I make model buses and paint happy faces on them" is the best Boris could come up with, thinking on his feet (You cannot say 'fucking' on daytime TV?), you are screwed.

[snapdragon]

Does no one else here believe if it had been Jeremy Corbyn and his partner having a row, Kaiserschmarm would have been all over it?

[B0ycey]

It remains a wild row then.

Something like this perhaps, although wilder and longer.

Definitely wilder.

Also, Johnson won't talk about it because talking about it would hurt him anyway.

If Symonds was abused, let her talk and take legal action, although I'd rather believe Johnson smashed a sofa, not her.

Talking about it could only hurt Johnson if what he said could hurt him. Although with Johnson that would more than likely happen.

And sure Carrie should take legal action if an offence took place. Believing that a sofa was the only thing that was smashed is fine in principle. It may well be the case. But being that the audio evidence suggests something extra along with the silence, had the media pushed this further, Johnson could only have blamed himself for his silence if it hurt his campaign. Although really perhaps it's everyone's belief that Johnson wouldn't be an abuser along with Carries silence on the matter being the reason for this not going further within the media. We also know a laptop was involved. Perhaps a physical argument over a new lover? Are there any UK porn stars waiting to sell their story to the media I wonder?

[B0ycey]

Does no one else here believe if it had been Jeremy Corbyn and his partner having a row, Kaiserschmarm would have been all over it?

No doubt Kaiser has a reputation for ridiculing "Lefties". You'll find her best posts in the SJW thread. Although her main strength is publishing articles. So sure she would be all over that if it happened because the Right-wing media are much harsher in attacking Corbyn than the Left are at attacking Johnson. She claims the Guardian are unfair on Johnson but they haven't even attacked him with all their ammunition and only call for answers to simple questions.

[Kaiserschmarrn]

The media haven't tried to extract anything from her. Nor Johnson as it happens.

You must be living on a different planet if you believe the British press haven't tried to contact her. Johnson has been repeatedly asked about it in an interview I've seen. I'd be very surprised if that was the only time journalists have tried to get a comment from him.

Under the spotlight during a campaign you should expect an opposition to stain your character BTW.

Quite obviously that's what's happening here. It's the point I made all along.

And Carrie. If she was abused, wouldn't it be fantastic if she spoke and ended Johnson career to save the UK from humiliation... just saying.

It's such a shame that nothing happened, isn't it. But by all means keep your fingers crossed that she was abused, B0ycey.

Does no one else here believe if it had been Jeremy Corbyn and his partner having a row, Kaiserschmarm would have been all over it?

You must have me confused with somebody else. I certainly never made a thread about him and can't even remember when I last commented on him.

[B0ycey]

It's such a shame that nothing happened, isn't it. But by all means keep your fingers crossed that she was abused, B0ycey.

But the audio evidence suggests something did happen FYI.

To what extent and how often is questionable. But encroachment did occur and the media never pursued it to the extent to ruin a campaign. Perhaps because the objective was more to sell a story than ruin a campaign. And once the story morphed into the question continuely being dodged, that became the new story.

Also on the point of the media questioning Carrie and BoJo, sure they want answers to questions on the event, but when I was talking about extracting information it was in regards to possible abuse.

[Heisenberg]

I can't stand Boris Johnson and am actively rooting for Jeremy Hunt in this leadership contest, which is a truly sad scenario.

But let's get a bit of perspective. Peter Hitchens had it more or less right in his column on Sunday: if a couple can't even have the occasional screaming row without a neighbour recording it and leaking it to the press, we really are doomed.

Of course, I have no doubt that B0ycey and all the other people who are so "concerned for Carrie Symonds' safety," live idyllic home lives where voices are never raised and red wine is never spilled.

What we should really be more concerned about with Boris Johnson is that despite his expensive education, he is surprisingly ignorant of the world, has no plan for Brexit, and would be an utter disaster of a PM. Barring a minority in the media, this is going largely unexamined.

But no, let's pretend the real deal breaker is that he argued with his girlfriend last weekend.

[snapdragon]

I'm not concerned with Carrie Symonds, who knows exactly what she's doing, but I am concerned that our future PM thinks he can get away with whatever he wants and "refuse to discuss" a matter that should be open to a certain amount of scrutiny, then publish a fake picture of them both all loved up straight afterwards, as proof all was well.

Not good enough, BoJo.

[B0ycey]

But let's get a bit of perspective. Peter Hitchens had it more or less right in his column on Sunday: if a couple can't even have the occasional screaming row without a neighbour recording it and leaking it to the press, we really are doomed.

And Peter Hitchins is also another complete twat and as such has no relevant opinion. Although even he should realise that most people who argue are not in a leadership battle for a top job. Had Johnson any sense he would understand walls do indeed have ears and as such should consider making any argument audio from within a block of apartments when fighting a leadership campaign - and if he does the news outlets should report it anyway because that is what they do. Although are you aware that the Police praised the people who recorded this event and asked people to report any suspicion also. What does Hitchins think to that advice I wonder?

Of course, I have no doubt that B0ycey and all the other people who are so "concerned for Carrie Symonds' safety," live idyllic home lives where voices are never raised and red wine is never spilled.

I am too laid back to care about spilt wine FYI. I am usually the one who mops it up and says don't worry. Although I never questioned that part of the argument and neither should have the media FYI. Nontheless to ruin an image of a candidate they perhaps should have focused on another part of the argument. The fact they didn't means that perhaps The Guardian aren't as biased as Kaiser thinks they are and have in fact let Johnson off.

What we should really be more concerned about with Boris Johnson is that despite his expensive education, he is surprisingly ignorant of the world, has no plan for Brexit, and would be an utter disaster of a PM. Barring a minority in the media, this is going largely unexamined.

But no, let's pretend the real deal breaker is that he argued with his girlfriend last weekend.

Johnsons incompetence is brought up in the media all the time. The Talk Radio presenter tried hard not to laugh at Johnson as he admitted to painting red buses as a passtime. Although all I hear now is that Boris has no workable Brexit plan and little on the argument story as it's yesterdays news now btw. Unfortunately Tories don't give a shit about whether his Brexit plan is workable or not. Like Johnson they are ignorant on the benefits of the EU but also have the power decide our next PM.

[Heisenberg]

And Peter Hitchins is also another complete twat and as such has no relevant opinion.

You mean, you disagree with him.

Although are you aware that the Police praised the people who recorded this event and asked people to report any suspicion also.

The issue here is not that the couple called the police, which by the sounds of things was perfectly reasonable in the circumstances.

The issue is that, once the police determined nothing was wrong and that they considered the matter closed, the couple subsequently leaked the recording to the Guardian, to manufacture a controversy. Surely you can see the difference between the two things.

[B0ycey]

The issue is that, once the police determined nothing was wrong and that they considered the matter closed, the couple subsequently leaked the recording to the Guardian, to manufacture a controversy. Surely you can see the difference between the two things.

So? they even made a statement stating they gave the Guadian the recording to do such a thing - or in their words public interest. Although the only thing I find amazing here is that Johnson has gotten away without having to make a statement on something that could have easily been manipulated to hurt is character and that the media outlet that Kaiser claims is so biased didn't even press the issue as far as they could have.

[Heisenberg]

So? they even made a statement stating they gave the Guadian the recording to do such a thing - or in their words public interest.

Ah, I see. So because they said that was what they were doing, it is completely beyond reproach. Good to know.

Although the only thing I find amazing here is that Johnson has gotten away without having to make a statement on something that could have easily been manipulated to hurt is character and that the media outlet that Kaiser claims is so biased didn't even press the issue as far as they could have.

Literally every press outlet in Britain is still running with the story, a week after the incident. I don't know what planet you're living on of you think it's been swept under the carpet and ignored. That and the weird bus-painting hobby seem to be occupying people's time more than the fact he's refusing to give a straight answer about what he'll do if he becomes prime minister.